Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Fire Officials Say Explosion Intentional at The Sub Shop in Lorton

Police are looking for a suspect who left the scene on foot Wednesday morning.

Update: Wednesday, 7:51 p.m.: 

Lawrence Reese's body is covered in third degree burns, and he will be staying at the Washington Burn Center for an undetermined period.

"I'm feeling down in the lowest dumps right now, the way I feel," said Reese, the owner of The Sub Shop. "I hope that I can get some energy, and I will. I'm going to be ok."

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Reese's wife, Lynnette, said that her husband did not see the suspect who allegedly threw the explosive in The Sub Shop, and that he has never wanted to hurt anyone.

"He built his business from the ground-up," said Annette Reese. "I'm not ok, but he's going to be ok. He's hanging in there."

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Update: 3:24 p.m.: Fairfax County Police say that "some sort of incendiary event" occurred at the Sub Shop at 9504 Richmond Highway at around 10:30 a.m., and that a black male, possibly injured, was seen running from the scene.

Police helicopter and K9 units responded to the area, according to police. Investigators are at the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

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UPDATE 12:40 p.m.: This morning's explosion at The Sub Shop in Lorton is being considered "an incendiary event," meaning that it was intentional in nature, according to Chief Mike Reilly with the fire marshall's office.

Police cruisers are stationed all around the area, along Route 1, Lorton Market Street, Lorton Station Boulevard and Lorton Road.

"There are a couple of people we're looking for and they could be witnesses," Reilly said. 

Representatives from the FBI are also on the scene. 

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An explosion took place at The Sub Shop at approximately 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Lorton, sending the owner to Washington Hospital Center's burn unit.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Officials from the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) and a bomb investigation unit were on the scene Wednesday investigating whether someone may have started the fire.

"There are reports of a subject leaving the scene on foot," said FCPD Officer Don Gotthardt. "We are considering him a suspect but we have no description of him."

The owner of the shop, Lawrence Reese, was taken to Washington Hospital Center's burn unit for burns on his arms. His condition is not known.

When fire officials arrived at the scene, they found the windows blown out of The Sub Shop and flames engulfing the shop. Officials described it as being caused by a "pressure event." 

The Sub Shop was gutted by a fire in 2010 when a fire destroyed the business and Reese had to rebuild it.

Editor Mary Ann Barton contributed to this story.

Stay with Lorton Patch as we update the story with any new information.


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