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A carjacking suspect wanted by US Parkway Police was spotted by a Virginia State Police trooper at round 10:15 p.m. on Wednesday night driving south on I-95, which led to a lengthy police pursuit when the driver refused to stop.
During the pursuit, the driver, Lanham resident Andy Ernesto Espinoza Garay, 26, struck a Virginia State Police vehicle, causing it to overturn, and the chase continued on until troopers were able to force the driver to stop.
During that stop, Garay - who was wearing a ski mask - continued to refuse to comply with troopers' commands, and the driver then "made multiple abrupt furtive movements with his hands, causing state troopers on scene to utilize their duty weapons."
Garay was pronounced dead at the scene.
Merlin Alexander Cruz-Perdomo, 21, also of Lanham, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was flown to Fairfax Hospital and listed in stable condition on Friday afternoon.
He was charged with grand larceny. A third passenger, Hyattsville Jonathan Bonilla-Baires, 24, was uninjured and also charged with grand larceny.
Four troopers involved in the officer-involved shooting have been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation into the incident.
At the conclusion of the investigation, all evidence and information will be turned over to the Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney.
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