Death Of Man Armed With Crossbow Near Potomac Mills Ruled Justified

WOODBRIDGE, VA — The Prince William County Police Department on Thursday said one of its officers was justified when they fatally shot a man wielding a crossbow outside Potomac Mills complex in Woodbridge.

In a news release shared on social media, the agency said it had completed its investigation into the July shooting of 52-year-old Harrison Charles Deppe of Woodbridge. The investigation was conducted by the regional Critical Incident Response Team, which includes investigators from multiple law enforcement agencies in Northern Virginia.

The completed investigation was then turned over to a judge, who determined that no charges would be filed against the officer involved in the shooting.

The shooting occurred on July 17 after police located Deppe, who was wanted for brandishing a gun toward an unknown victim on Colchester Road in Woodbridge. Police also believed he was involved in a similar case on Birchdale Avenue.

Police found Deppe parked in a vehicle on Potomac Mills Circle, located near the Potomac Mills mall complex. Officers negotiated with Deppe for several hours in an attempt to get him to surrender.

At one point, officers surrounded Deppe's vehicle to take him into custody, police said. He had exited the vehicle and ran towards the mall, armed with a crossbow, when he was shot and killed by police.

• Related: Police Shooting Kills Man With Crossbow Near Potomac Mills In Woodbridge

No other injuries were reported.

The investigation will be turned over for a separate, internal administrative review by the Prince William County Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards, authorities said. The Prince William County Police Department’s Use of Deadly Force Review Board will then conduct a final review to determine if the shooting was justified and within policy.