Fairfax Police Respond to Deadly Domestic Attack with 'Meat Cleaver'

Two killed, one critically injured in violent family dispute

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Fairfax County police responded to a domestic violence call early Monday morning to find a 54-year-old man attacking his family members with what was described as a 'meat cleaver.' Officers shot and killed the suspect after he refused to drop the knife and continued the assault. Two female victims were pronounced dead at the hospital, while a male victim remains in critical condition.

Why it matters

Domestic violence incidents can escalate quickly and tragically, as this case demonstrates. The use of an unusually deadly weapon like a meat cleaver also raises concerns about public safety and the potential need for stronger policies around domestic violence prevention and response.

The details

According to police, officers responded around 5:06 a.m. to a report of a domestic assault at an apartment in Fairfax. They found an adult female victim suffering from stab wounds outside, then entered the apartment to find the 54-year-old male suspect, Chhatra Thapa, attacking an adult male victim with a knife. When Thapa refused to drop the weapon and continued the assault, an officer shot and killed him. The two female victims, identified as Thapa's 33-year-old daughter Mamta Thapa and 52-year-old wife Binda Thapa, were both pronounced dead at the hospital. The male victim, the son-in-law, remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

  • Officers responded around 5:06 a.m. on Monday, February 24, 2026.
  • The incident occurred at an apartment in the 3900 block of Persimmon Drive in Fairfax, Virginia.

The players

Chhatra Thapa

A 54-year-old Fairfax resident who attacked his family members with a knife resembling a 'meat cleaver' before being shot and killed by police.

Mamta Thapa

The 33-year-old daughter of Chhatra Thapa, who was killed in the attack.

Binda Thapa

The 52-year-old wife of Chhatra Thapa, who was killed in the attack.

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What they’re saying

“I've been doing this a long time, as have all of us. That a person, a patriarch of a family, attempts to take so many lives in such a moment like this, thank God, doesn't happen here or elsewhere very often. But when it does, it reminds all of us that domestic violence can start at a really low level and escalate really, really quickly.”

— Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Police Chief (Patch.com)

What’s next

The Fairfax County Police Department's Major Crimes Bureau is investigating the use of force in this case, while the Internal Affairs Bureau is conducting a separate administrative investigation. The results of the criminal investigation will be presented to the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for better domestic violence prevention and intervention strategies, as well as the risks that can arise when conflicts escalate to the use of deadly weapons. It serves as a somber reminder of the devastating toll that domestic violence can take on families and communities.