Today, the Fairfax County Virginia Police Department released the initial findings of the investigation into the matter of homes and vehicles being damaged by gunfire yesterday. The investigation indicates that the gunfire came from a Metropolitan Police Department firing range, which is used not only by the Metropolitan Police Department, but other federal and local law enforcement agencies in the Washington, D.C. area.

The preliminary investigation indicates that there was in fact a firing exercise at the time the incident reportedly occurred. Participating in the live fire exercise were: Fairfax County Police; United States Capitol Police; Defense Protective Services; and Andrews Air Force Base Security, under the supervision of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) personnel.

The MPD has requested that Fairfax authorities obtain the submachine guns that were used by these jurisdictions yesterday at the Lorton Range to determine which weapons possibly caused the damage. The MPD's Office of Professional Responsibility's Force Investigation Team is also investigating the incident and working closely with Fairfax county authorities.

Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey upon hearing of the incident immediately ordered that all live fire exercises at the Lorton Range be suspended until the completion of the investigation and review of the incident.

Chief Ramsey is most concerned about this matter and has ordered a complete review to determine that all safety and range procedures were adhered to at the Lorton Range in an effort to determine how the mishap occurred. He further noted, "I intend to see to it that people who reside in the area will not be endangered by training operations at this facility."

Chief Ramsey has been in touch with Fairfax County Chief of Police J. Thomas Manger as the two departments work in full cooperation on the investigation into this matter.