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Armed man shot by Fairfax County officers in Lorton, police say

Police say they encountered an armed man following a call for a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot in Lorton.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — A man believed to be living out of a minivan was shot by a Fairfax County police officer in Lorton, Virgina Tuesday, according to the Fairfax County Police Department. 

FCPD Chief Kevin Davis said officers were initially called to the 8300 block of Fitt Court around 8:05 a.m. after a resident reported a suspicious van parked in the area for at least a day.

Two responding officers arrived on the scene less than 10 minutes later and called for a tow truck. As they were gathering information to complete the tow report, Davis said the tow truck driver opened the van's driver-side door, and an officer pushed a button to open the rear driver-side passenger door. The suspect got out of the van and pointed a rifle in the direction of the police officers.

Davis said based on his review of the body camera footage, officers told the man to drop the gun several times before one of the officers fired multiple shots at the suspect. Davis said it is unknown how many shots were fired, but said the man was hit at least once.

Neighbor Christine Becker said she heard three gunshots.

"It was three very quick, boom, boom, boom," Becker said. "It's unnerving because this is a very safe neighborhood and things like this don't happen in our neighborhood."

Davis said when officers approached the man to arrest him, they recovered a replica-style pistol in his jacket pocket.

He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and police say he is in stable condition.

One officer sustained minor injuries after trying to remove the tow truck driver on the scene, Davis said.

The owner of the tow truck company, Jon Redman, told WUSA9 his driver is rattled, but is doing okay after having to duck for cover. Other employees later completed the job once the scene was cleared. 

Redman said according to his employee, the suspect was under a blanket when he popped out.

WATCH: SKY9 flew over the scene as police investigated. 

Police believe the suspect was living in his van for an extended period of time. Davis said investigators found many items inside the vehicle, including what appeared to be dark curtain rods to separate the two front seats from the back of the van. All of the suspect's personal belongings were inside and the van's windows were tinted which made the interior of the van hard to see.

"He's been living in that van for a while and I don't know why he chose this neighborhood to park in," Davis said.

Davis believes no one, including the 9-1-1 caller, knew that there was someone in the van. 

"I believe our police officers didn't know there was someone in the van," said Davis. "It likely took them by surprise."

Neighbors told WUSA9 that the area is usually a quiet scene and this event has shocked the community.

At this time, police were able to identify the suspect as a man in his early 30s, but did not release his name. Davis said the suspect is wanted in Fairfax County for failing to appear in court for firearm and drug-related charges. Police were also able to determine that the tags on the van were stolen out of North Carolina.

Police plan to investigate the mental health history of the suspect.

Fairfax County Police said they will release body camera footage to the community in the coming days.

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