Investigation into Critical Condition of Child Leads to Arrest; Additional Charges Possible
A 21-year-old Virginia man was arrested and charged with strangulation on Wednesday after an infant was found not breathing at a residence and transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Leesburg Police officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Hancock Place NE at approximately 10:07 a.m. on September 17 for a report of an infant in distress. The child was rushed to an area hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
A subsequent investigation by the Leesburg Police Department revealed that the infant had been assaulted. The suspect, identified as Alvaro Mejia Ayala, fled the scene on foot before police arrived.
With assistance from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Mejia Ayala was located and taken into custody at approximately 3:18 p.m. in the area of the 100 block of Meadows Lane NE. He was charged with strangulation.
Authorities stated that the investigation is active and ongoing, and additional charges against Mejia Ayala are possible as more information becomes available.
The Leesburg Police Department extended its thanks to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500. Information can also be provided anonymously by calling 703-443-TIPS (8477).
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