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Wednesday, mar 5

Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

zfailla@dailyvoice.com

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Equal parts Lois Lane, J. Jonah Jameson and Vicki Vale, Zak! has traveled from coast-to-coast covering small and big town community news in both in print and online for nearly a decade since his graduation from the award-winning Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in 2010.

Before settling into the Hudson Valley, Zak! previously spent time in the New York Daily News newsroom and worked for hyperlocal digital news outlets on Long Island. He wrote sports for The Ithacan and The Ithaca Journal before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he served as the sports editor at the Shoshone News-Press until heading back east to work with Daily Voice.

Zak Failla's Contributions

Obituaries

Teen Killed In Suspected DUI Crash Had ‘A Heart For Giving’ In Virginia A Virginia family is grieving the unimaginable loss of 16-year-old Elizabeth Chong, who was killed by an allegedly drunk driver in a head-on Centreville crash. The crash happened just after 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 in the 5600 block of Pleasant Valley Road, according to Fairfax County Police. Chong, who was driving a 2013 Toyota Camry, was struck head-on when the driver of a Toyota Corolla crossed over the double yellow line and slammed her vehicle. Chong was airlifted to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The other driver …

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Police & Fire

Assisted Living Worker Stole Medications From Vulnerable Patients In Maryland, Sheriff Says A Maryland assisted living facility worker is behind bars after investigators say she stole prescription medications from her patients and abused vulnerable adults. Deputies with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office arrested Judy Marie Smith, 45, of California, early Wednesday morning, March 5, on an open warrant for drug distribution and multiple other charges. The investigation centered on Taylor Farms Assisted Living in Bushwood, where Smith was employed. Authorities allege that she diverted controlled prescription medications from patients, taking advantage of those in her care…

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Police & Fire

Two Killed, Two Injured In Targeted Maryland Shooting; Victims Identified: Police A deadly shooting in Severn left two men dead and two others injured, as detectives work to piece together what led to the violence, authorities said. Officers with the Anne Arundel County Police Department responded around 7 p.m. on Monday, March 4, to reports of gunfire in the 8100 block of Meade Village Road. When officers arrived, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim, identified as 23-year-old Derrick Purcell Ahmad McDonald of Severn, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The second victim, 28-year-old Mack Samuel Galloway III of Glen Burni…

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Lifestyle

$50K Scratch-Off Win Stuns Maryland Man Who Picked Ticket On A Whim Sometimes, all it takes is a little beginner’s luck—just ask one Frederick County lottery player who walked into a Giant Eagle, picked a ticket at random, and walked out $50,000 richer. The self-employed local, who had never won big before, spotted a Cash to Go scratch-off at the Giant Eagle on West Patrick Street and decided to give it a shot. That spur-of-the-moment decision turned out to be a game-changer. After scratching off the ticket right there in the store, he uncovered a piggybank symbol—the key to the game's $50,000 top prize. Just to be sure, he scanned it to …

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Police & Fire

Infant's Death Ruled Homicide—Babysitter Now Behind Bars In Maryland: Police A Maryland man has been arrested and charged with murder after a 7-month-old infant died while in his care, authorities said. Terron Christopher Matasaran, 36, of Bladensburg, is facing second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse charges in connection with the baby’s death, according to the Montgomery County Police Department. The case began on Monday, September 23, 2024, when officers responded to a home on Stewart Lane in Silver Spring for reports of an unresponsive baby boy. Matasaran, who had been babysitting the infant as a favor to the child’s family, claimed the baby had falle…

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Police & Fire

Maryland Man Had Cocaine On Face, Children In Car During Virginia Stop, Sheriff Says A Maryland man was found slumped behind the wheel with cocaine on his nose and lip, while two children sat in the car, according to authorities. Deputies with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office responded at approximately 9:36 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, to a call about an unresponsive driver with children in the vehicle near Town Center Boulevard, officials said. Deputies located the vehicle near Richmond Highway and Coachman Circle and attempted a traffic stop after the driver committed a lane violation. When the deputy approached the car, the driver—Bowie resident Aaron Clark, 42—showed c…

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Police & Fire

Man Brandished Gun In Front Of Kids During Dispute Over Dogs In Maryland: State's Attorney A St. Mary’s County man is facing decades in prison after being convicted of firing a handgun during a heated argument with his neighbors, authorities said. A jury found Christopher Michael Sherman, 36, of Mechanicsville, guilty of two counts each of felony first-degree assault and using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, the St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office announced. The case stemmed from an incident on June 18, 2024, when Sherman brandished and fired his gun during a verbal altercation with his neighbors in front of their children over their dogs, prosecutors said…

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Police & Fire

I-95 Police Pursuit With Kids In Car Lands Stafford Couple Behind Bars: Sheriff A Stafford County couple is facing felony child neglect charges after leading police on a high-speed chase on I-95—while three children were in the car, authorities said. The pursuit began around 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, March 3, when a deputy spotted a BMW with a loud exhaust speeding at 60 mph in a 35 mph zone on Onville Road, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. When the deputy attempted a traffic stop, the driver initially slowed down and turned on the hazard lights—but then sped off, leading deputies on a dangerous pursuit through Barrett Heights Road, Travis Lane, and Garri…

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Lifestyle

Winning Numbers For Tuesday, March 4 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $215M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing with a rapidly rising jackpot. The winning numbers have been announced for the Tuesday, March 4 Mega Millions drawing. The estimated jackpot is $215 million, with an estimated cash option of $101.9 million. The winning numbers for Tuesday's drawing are: 14-19-47-52-70 with a Mega Ball of 06 and a Megaplier of 2X. MegaMillions If no winner wins the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Friday, March 7. Lottery players have…

by Zak Failla

03/05/2025

Police & Fire

Deputies Tackle Fleeing Spotsy Fugitive Fleeing In Stafford, Sheriff Says A wanted man in camouflage thought he could blend in—but he didn’t make it far before authorities tackled him outside a Jersey Mike’s in Stafford County, officials said. Travis Ward, 38, of Spotsylvania, was in North Stafford, driving a red Pontiac G6 despite having no license and multiple active warrants in Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Fairfax counties, leading to his demise, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The chaos unfolded around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, March 3 when deputies learned that Ward was in the area. Deputies spotted Ward heading west on Garrisonville Road…

by Zak Failla

03/04/2025

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