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What started as an investigation into a missing 25-year-old woman over the weekend rapidly escalated into a kidnapping probe involving Brittany A. Copelin, 29, who made her way from Charles County, MD to Fairfax County, VA, police said.
The near-weeklong ordeal began on Friday, March 24, in Laurel, when police were called to investigate the kidnapping of Lauren L. Kingsbury, police said.
Two days later, just before 10 p.m., members of the Laurel Police Department responded to the 14000 block of Korba Place when Kingsbury, 25, was reported missing by her mother, police said. Her mom had doorbell footage of her daughter leaving her home with Copelin, police said.
When police made contact with Kingsbury in Fairfax County on Tuesday, March 28, she pointed them to Copelin, alleging she'd been abducted by her, authorities in Virginia said.
That's when police found Copelin in her Jeep, armed with a semi-automatic weapon that she pointed at her head several times during the standoff that ensued, according to police. When approached, Copelin took members of the Fairfax County Police Department on a low-speed pursuit before ultimately parking on Richmond Highway, leading to a two-day closure of the busy roadway.
During the 34-hour barricade situation, Copelin acted erratically, using duct tape and paper to help obscure her from negotiators, and repeatedly putting the gun to her head until she could be talked down, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said during a briefing on Thursday, March 30 after Copelin was taken into custody.
“Our officers did what we asked them to do. They backed off … Saw the gun and same person in the car, and used time and distance to their benefit by calling for a SWAT team to handle the barricaded person inside the vehicle,” he said.
“Ultimately, our hope is this woman gets the treatment she needs to lead a successful life, but she does face criminal charges.”
In Laurel, Copelin has been charged via a warrant with:
- Kidnapping;
- Home invasion;
- First-degree assault;
- Second-degree assault;
- Third-degree burglary;
- Firearm use in the commission of a felony;
- Loaded handgun on a person;
- False imprisonment.
In Fairfax County, she is additionally charged with:
- Two counts of abduction;
- Two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony;
- Felon in possession of a firearm.
Copelin is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on a no bond status.
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