Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Logo

Police warned prosecutors 3 times about violent illegal immigrant before he allegedly killed Virginia mother

An illegal immigrant with more than 30 arrests allegedly murdered a Virginia mother after police warned prosecutors at least three times. His criminal history was allegedly ignored.

U.S. NewsBy Sarah MitchellMarch 4, 20266 min read

Last updated: April 5, 2026, 10:47 PM

Share:
Police warned prosecutors 3 times about violent illegal immigrant before he allegedly killed Virginia mother

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Newly uncovered emails show the Fairfax County Police Department warned the county's commonwealth attorney about a criminal illegal migrant with more than 30 previous arrests at least three times before he allegedly stabbed a mother to death in the Washington, D.C. area.

Abdul Jalloh, 32, is charged with murder after allegedly stabbing 41-year-old Stephanie Minter to death at a bus stop in Fairfax County, Virginia, in late February.

Jalloh, an illegal immigrant from Sierra Leone in West Africa who lived in Virginia since the age of 9, was arrested at a liquor store one day after the stabbing when an employee called 911 to report Jalloh was shoplifting.

Abdul Jalloh, 32, is accused of killing Stephanie Minter, 41, at a Virginia bus stop. (Fairfax County Police Department; provided)

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Jalloh entered the country in 2012 and has more than a dozen arrests in northern Virginia.

His criminal history includes more than 30 arrests for charges of rape, malicious wounding, assault, drug possession, identity theft, trespassing, larceny, firing a weapon, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and pick-pocketing, yet his charges were dropped by local prosecutors on almost every occasion, according to DHS.

Emails obtained by WJLA showed the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) warned Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office about Jalloh on at least three occasions, but no action was taken to remove him from the country.

In an email to Fairfax County Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Jenna Sands, a Fairfax County police major said he wanted to bring Jalloh's release to her attention because he "is one of the repeat (and violent) offenders" they had previously discussed.

Abdul Jalloh seen on a bus in Virginia. (Fairfax County Police Department)

DHS RIPS DEM-RUN COUNTY AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MURDERER RELEASED: 'BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS'

"I wanted to get your background on why he is out so soon and ask if his prior suspended sentence (of I believe 5 years) was pursued by your office? Unfortunately, based on MTV Station’s numerous dealings with him, it is not a question of if, but rather when he will maliciously wound (or worse) again. My role of keeping the public safe, prompts me to follow up on his status," the major wrote.

In another email discussing a bond alert from August 2025, a FCPD employee told Assistant Police Chief Brooke Wright that Jalloh had more than 100 involvements with FCPD, resulting in multiple charges spanning from theft to violent crimes, according to the outlet.

"JALLOH’s offenses began with domestic violence incidents and escalated to assaulting other victims and threats with weapons (knives)," the employee wrote in the email. "He has been involved in multiple stabbing incidents with victims identifying him as the offender in these cases. This year JALLOH has been the offender in a malicious wounding where he stabbed a man in May 2025, in which he received a bond on July 31, 2025 — three weeks later, this incident occurred where he assaulted an older male and stomped his head into the ground."

PRO-POLICE GROUP ASKS DOJ TO PROBE SOROS-BACKED VIRGINIA PROSECUTOR USING BIDEN-ERA LAW ONCE AIMED AT COPS

The employee added a list of Jalloh’s criminal history to the email, which included:

2014: Assault on family member (nolle prossed)

2015: Assault on family member (nolle prossed)

2017: ID theft to avoid arrest (guilty)

2018: Destruction of property (guilty) — Original charge: malicious shoot/throw occupied building

2018: Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (nolle prossed)

2023: Possession of a schedule three substance (guilty) — Original charge: possession of a schedule one or two substance

2023: Malicious wounding (guilty) — Sentenced to seven years, with five years suspended to probation

2023: Stealing property from a person (nolle prossed)

2024: Failure to appear in court (dismissed)

*Nolle pressed refers to a prosecutor's formal decision to drop criminal charges.

In response to the email, Wright said Sands "had a specific conversation regarding them prosecuting without a victim in court for the stabbing given the circumstances and she was on board with a victimless prosecution."

In a May 2025 email obtained by WJLA, police emailed Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano’s office — including Sands and other prosecutors — warning that Jalloh "has a history of stabbing community members and was on probation during the most recent assault."

"For those reasons and the reasons outlined in the document, we ask that you argue he continues to be held at the ADC," an officer wrote.

The email also explained a May 4, 2025 incident where Jalloh allegedly stabbed a man in the leg while he was sleeping with his girlfriend.

"Without hesitation, the Victim stated that Jallow was the person who stabbed him. Jalloh has been charged with numerous Malicious woundings and been convicted of one in 2023 and [is] currently out on probation for the aforementioned crime and living in an OAR provided motel room," the officer wrote.

OAR is a nonprofit in Fairfax County that provides "alternatives to incarceration" for criminals.

VIRGINIA MURDER SUSPECT IN BUS STOP STABBING HAD LENGTHY CRIMINAL HISTORY, MULTIPLE DROPPED CHARGES

Similar to the other email, the officer included a list of prior police involvement, including an incident on April 14, 2024, where Jalloh allegedly stabbed a homeless man in the head and upper body while he was sleeping at a bus stop, telling him, "get up, you can’t sleep here."

Later that same day, Jalloh allegedly stabbed a woman in the head after attacking her and stealing her money, according to the email.

Other incidents included Jalloh allegedly choking a woman, stomping on her, burning her chest and raping her in October 2018, stabbing a person inside a McDonald's in January 2023, and stabbing an elderly man in February 2023.

The email also said police had a record of 178 involvements, citing Jalloh as a known shoplifter and noting he "is often intoxicated/high and located w/narcotics on his person."

DEM GOVERNOR UNDER FIRE AFTER ILLEGAL ALIEN ALLEGEDLY STABS WOMAN TO DEATH AT BUS STOP: 'HEINOUS'

"DANGER This individual has a long history of stabbing community members and is currently on probation for doing that very thing," the officer wrote. "He has shown a blatant disregard for human life and is a danger to the community."

Despite Jalloh's criminal history and the recent killing of Minter, Democratic Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she would not honor a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer, which is a written request for law enforcement to maintain custody of a person for up to 48 hours after their scheduled release to allow for transfer to ICE custody.

SM
Sarah Mitchell

National Reporter

Sarah Mitchell reports on American communities, social trends, and national stories shaping the country. A graduate of Columbia Journalism School, she has reported from all 50 states on issues ranging from education policy to immigration reform. Her feature writing has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Related Stories