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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

Police & Fire

Bystander Killed When Federal Officer's Gun Fires During Stafford Brawl, Sheriff Says A reckless motorcycle ride in a Stafford County neighborhood escalated into a deadly confrontation when a federal officer’s gun discharged, killing a 61-year-old bystander, authorities said. Deputies responded to Stratford Place subdivision around 6:35 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, after an off-duty federal law enforcement officer confronted a motorcyclist riding recklessly through the neighborhood, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The motorcyclist initially left the area but later returned with family members, sparking a heated altercation near the intersection of North Jenny …

by Zak Failla

03/01/2025

Schools

Gun-Toting Men Brought Weapon To Elementary School In Fairfax County: Police Two Virginia men were arrested after brandishing a handgun on elementary school property in Hybla Valley, sending students into a panic before fleeing the scene, police said. Officers responded to Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School around 2:53 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, after multiple students reported seeing two men on school grounds, with one of them flashing a gun, according to Fairfax County Police. By the time officers arrived, the suspects had already taken off, but police worked with school officials to secure the building and ensure a safe dismissal, authorities said. A search of…

by Zak Failla

03/01/2025

Lifestyle

Winning Numbers For Friday, Feb. 28 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $197M Jackpot The winning numbers have been announced for the Friday, Feb. 28 Mega Millions drawing. The estimated jackpot is $197 million with a $92.4 million cash option. The winning numbers were 09-19-30-35-66 with a Mega Ball of 16 and a Megaplier of 3X. MegaMillions If no winner wins the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll to $181 million until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3. Lottery players have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance of winning a Mega Millions jackpot by matching all five balls plus the gold Mega Ball, according to officials.&…

by Zak Failla

02/28/2025

Police & Fire

Prince Frederick Influencer Set Blaze, Made Fake 911 Calls For Content: Maryland Fire Marshal A Maryland social media "hobbyist" who films emergency responses for content was arrested for allegedly setting a building on fire and making false 911 calls to capture footage of firefighters in action, authorities said. Joshua Christian-Stanley Jackson, 21, of Prince Frederick, was taken into custody on Friday, Feb. 28, after investigators determined he was responsible for a vacant commercial building fire in Charles County, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office. Fire crews responded to 12535 Crain Highway around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, after receiving a 911 call a…

by Zak Failla

02/28/2025

Police & Fire

Man Used Explosive Device To Destroy Mom's Car: Maryland Fire Marshal A Maryland man is facing arson and explosives charges after investigators say he intentionally set his mother’s car on fire, causing damage to both the vehicle and a nearby home. Terry Lynn Ford Jr., 24, of Cumberland, was arrested on Friday, Feb. 28, following a months-long investigation by the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office, authorities said. Fire crews responded to a 2005 Toyota Camry Solara engulfed in flames outside 883 Patterson Avenue around 8 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2024, officials said Investigators later determined the fire was deliberately set using an explosive device, causing an…

by Zak Failla

02/28/2025

Police & Fire

Former Cop Who Killed Shoplifting Suspect In Fairfax County Gets Prison Time A former Fairfax County police officer will spend three years behind bars for fatally shooting a man outside Tysons Corner Center Mall, officials announced. Wesley Shifflett, 36, was sentenced on Friday, Feb. 28, after being convicted of reckless firearm handling in the 2023 death of 37-year-old Timothy Johnson, according to Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano. The shooting happened on Feb. 23, 2023, when Johnson was killed outside Tysons Corner Center Mall following a shoplifting incident and subsequent pursuit that ended with shots fired and the suspect down. “This case …

by Zak Failla

02/28/2025

Traffic

DUI Driver Kills Teen Girl In Head-On Centreville Crash, Police Say A 16-year-old girl was killed in a head-on crash in Centreville after a drunk driver veered into oncoming traffic, authorities said. Carlos Parada-Hernandez, 23, of Herndon, was driving a 2023 Toyota Corolla northbound on Pleasant Valley Road when he crossed the double yellow line and slammed into a 2013 Toyota Camry head-on, according to Fairfax County Police. The crash happened around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, in the 5600 block of Pleasant Valley Road. The 16-year-old driver of the Camry was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening injuries but later died, police said. Parada-H…

by Zak Failla

02/28/2025

Police & Fire

DUI Driver Slams Into Home, Lands In Culvert After Calvert Hit-Run Crash: Sheriff A drunk driver slammed into a Maryland home, causing it to shake from the impact, before speeding off and crashing into a culvert, deputies said. The chaotic crash happened earlier this month, when deputies from the Calvert County Sheriff's Office responded to the 3700 block of Larkview Court in Dunkirk for a hit-and-run. Homeowners told deputies they were inside when they heard a loud bang and felt the house shake. A resident ran outside and saw a Jeep Crossover against the front of the house, with landscaping damage, before it sped away from the scene, authorities said. Deputies c…

by Zak Failla

02/28/2025

Obituaries

Freak Sledding Accident Kills Young Mother A fun day in the snow turned into tragedy for a young Virginia family when a 26-year-old mother was killed in a freak sledding accident, leaving behind her husband and infant daughter, just as they were set to begin a new life, loved ones said. Madelyn Nancy Lowe-Perdue, 26, of Chesapeake, suffered severe injuries in the accident on Thursday, Feb. 20, and was rushed to the hospital, where she later died, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized to support her family. "As many have heard or seen by now, there was a sledding accident," they said. "Many of our loved ones were hurt or in…

by Zak Failla

02/28/2025

Lifestyle

Woman Scratches 25 Wins On One Ticket, Racks Up $50K Lottery Payday In Anne Arundel An Anne Arundel County woman’s lucky streak wasn’t just one big win—it was 25 of them, all on the same scratch-off ticket, adding up to a whopping $50,000, lottery officials said. The food service worker, who is going by “Sandra” to share her story, picked up a $10 Mega Bucks scratch-off in Crownsville and started scratching. She hit $25 on the first number, then $1,000 on the next. Then another. And another. By the time she was done, her ticket was a financial masterpiece: Four $10,000 wins; Nine $1,000 wins; A mix of $25, $100, and $200 wins. Total haul? $50,000 from 25 separate …

by Zak Failla

02/28/2025

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