LEESBURG, VA – A local man is in custody after authorities allege he fatally strangled his 8-month-old sister with a charging cord inside a Leesburg apartment on Wednesday morning.
Police said Alvaro Mejia-Ayala, 21, is facing a felony charge of strangulation in connection with the attack. Officers responded around 10 a.m. to a report of an infant who was not breathing at a residence on Hancock Place Northeast, located in a residential complex near the heart of this Northern Virginia community.
When first responders arrived, they found the young girl with a white USB charging cord still wrapped around her neck. The infant was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Despite medical intervention, police later confirmed the baby girl died from her injuries.
Investigators quickly identified Mejia-Ayala, the infant’s older brother, as the primary suspect. Police reports indicate that Mejia-Ayala had fled the scene on foot prior to officers’ arrival. According to court documents, he reached out to a friend soon after the incident, disclosing that he had been “playing with his sister and may have killed her.”
A community alert was issued, describing Mejia-Ayala’s clothing and asking residents to be on the lookout. Law enforcement canvassed the area for several hours alongside the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, ultimately apprehending Mejia-Ayala around 3:18 p.m. on Meadows Lane Northeast. Authorities noted that the arrest site is only a short distance from the family’s apartment.
Police say additional charges, including murder, are being considered in coordination with prosecutors in the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. No motive for the attack has been specified at this time.
Mejia-Ayala is being held in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond. His initial court appearance is scheduled for November 13.
Leesburg Police Chief Thea Pirnat addressed the case during an afternoon press briefing, describing the incident as a deliberate and tragic act. The death has left community members reeling in a town known for its typically low crime rate.
Neighbors in the area expressed shock following news of the infant’s death. Grief counselors have been made available as the investigation continues.
The case remains under active investigation, with police urging anyone who might have information relevant to the incident to contact authorities.