After a husband and wife, both military veterans, were murdered outside of their home in Springfield, Virginia, a manhunt for the murderer is now underway.
Edward McDaniel Jr., 55, and Brenda McDaniel, 63, were shot in cold blood in their front yard at around 9:30 a.m., according to the Fairfax County Police.
“They did nothing wrong. They were tragically and horribly murdered in their neighborhood,” Fairfax County police Maj. Ed O’Carroll said during an evening news conference.
Edward McDaniel was an active Army colonel, according to reporting by FOX 5 of Washington, D.C.
Police have not yet identified the suspect — or suspects — but officers are currently searching for a 2018 light-colored Nissan Altima with Maryland plate number 1EF1479.
“We still need to identify this killer, we need to get him off the streets,” said Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis. “We think he’s likely still local… The car may be parked in your neighborhood right now.”
Davis also noted that investigators believe the murders were related to an incident that took place two days earlier, when police were called to the home for a potential burglary in progress.
Chief Davis and @edocarroll updated the community tonight on this mornings tragic double homicide in Springfield. BOLO light colored 2018 Nissan Altima MD:1EF1479. If seen call 911. https://t.co/nR59ZVSeOb #FCPD pic.twitter.com/ltoiLACqLT
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) May 27, 2021
“There’s a lot of questions that we still have,” O’Carroll added. “The key is the car, but ultimately the key is the shooter or a second person.”
While the manhunt is still underway, authorities have offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the suspect(s) arrest.