SPRINGFIELD, Virginia – Two teachers were injured in a shooting at a day care center in northern Virginia on Wednesday, and the alleged shooter is now in police custody.
The Fairfax County Police Department reported that both women sustained “non-life threatening” wounds and have been transported to local hospitals for treatment.
During a press conference held later in the afternoon, Deputy Chief Brooke Wright assured the public that all the children at the day care were safe and unharmed.
Wright stated, “None of the children at this location were harmed. All children, at this time, have been released to their parents or guardians.”
According to Wright, the police received a call around 2:15 p.m. regarding the shooting at the KinderCare center on Bauer Drive. Officers quickly responded to the scene on Bauer Drive.
The suspect has been identified as 41-year-old Julio Pascual Sejas from Arlington. Wright urged the public to contact the police if they had any information about Sejas’ whereabouts. Later that evening, detectives announced that Sejas had been located and apprehended at Dulles International Airport.
Witnesses reported that Sejas had come to the day care center to find a woman he had been involved with. It is unclear whether the victim, who is a teacher at the center, was Sejas’ current or estranged spouse.
Unable to gain entry, Sejas allegedly fired three shots through the front door with a pistol. Thankfully, none of the over 70 children present at the time were in the immediate vicinity of the shooting.
The suspect is now facing multiple charges, including two counts of aggravated malicious wounding and three counts of shooting into a school building.
Following the incident, KinderCare released a statement expressing their concern for the injured teachers and their families. The company assured parents that the safety of the children in their care is their top priority and that their staff has been trained to respond to emergency situations.
The day care center will remain closed for the foreseeable future to allow the community time to heal. Families requiring immediate care are being assisted on an individual basis.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the shooting.