ANNANDALE, Va. — An encounter on the Capital Beltway spiraled into chaos Sunday afternoon when a McLean man allegedly attacked four women with a knife following a crash on Interstate 495, resulting in two fatalities and several injuries. Jared Llamado, a Foreign Service officer, was ultimately shot by a Virginia state trooper during the incident.
The violent confrontation unfolded around 1:15 p.m. near Exit 52, prompting multiple 911 calls. Witnesses reported that Llamado, 32, exited his vehicle after the crash and began attacking the women, who were strangers to him and not involved in the initial collision. Among the victims was Michele Adams, 39, who succumbed to her injuries at the scene, while three other women, identified as Dana Bonnell, 36, Mary C. Flood, 37, and Heather Miller, 40, were hospitalized with serious wounds.
Witness accounts describe a scene of pandemonium along one of the region’s busiest highways, with motorists pulling over and calling for help as helicopters arrived to assist first responders. Sarah Kober and her daughter, Jennifer Paxton, witnessed the events unfold after Llamado swiped their SUV, triggering a series of alarming behaviors in his vehicle. “When we stopped, I told my daughter to run. I was terrified we would be next,” Kober recalled.
As the situation escalated, state troopers dispatched to the area received reports of a road rage incident. By the time they arrived, Llamado was still wielding a knife. According to authorities, the trooper confronted him and, fearing for his safety, discharged his weapon, injuring Llamado, who later died after being transported to a hospital. The trooper was unharmed throughout the ordeal.
Further investigation revealed that the attack appeared random and unprovoked, as all four women were unacquainted with Llamado. The violence left a broader impact on the community, prompting questions about the unexpected nature of such a brutal assault. Additionally, a dog belonging to Llamado was killed during the incident.
Traffic on the southbound lanes of the Capital Beltway was halted for several hours as investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the stabbings. The closure led to significant backups, further underscoring the chaos of the day. Initial reports mistakenly framed the situation as a simple property-damage accident before it escalated into an attack.
The investigation into the incident will occur on multiple fronts. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Fairfax Field Office is reviewing the trooper’s use of force while a separate inquiry examines the sequence of events leading to the stabbings. No charges will be levied against Llamado due to his death, but authorities are committed to fully evaluating the circumstances surrounding the crash and the subsequent violence.
The State Department confirmed Llamado’s position as a Foreign Service officer and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. As the investigations continue, the community remains shaken by the tragedy, grappling with the aftermath of an indiscriminate act of violence on a busy highway.