# Fairfax County police shooting and ICE detainer

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/fairfax-county-police-shooting-and-ice-detainer
> Updated: 2026-07-31T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

On July 28, 2024, Fairfax County police responded to a domestic‑violence call in Annandale, Virginia. Suspect Nehemia Fuentes‑Banegas, armed with knives and bearing self‑inflicted wounds, fled into nearby woods, seized an officer’s firearm and was shot three times, grazing his shoulder. A second officer used a taser, and the suspect was taken to a hospital, then jailed on charges including attempted disarming of a law‑enforcement officer. The department’s Real‑Time Crime Center used camera footage to locate him and recover the knives. The involved officer was placed on restricted duty pending investigations by the Major Crimes Bureau, Internal Affairs, and an independent audit, with body‑camera footage slated for release within 30 days.

Three days later, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed a detainer for Fuentes‑Banegas, requesting that Fairfax County officials inform federal authorities before his release and transfer him into ICE custody. ICE’s action reignited debate over Virginia’s sanctuary policies, with critics linking the incident to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s executive order limiting county cooperation with ICE.

A 2026 news report recapped the July 2024 incident, confirming the earlier account of the shooting and the subsequent ICE detainer filing.

## Claims

- ICE filed a detainer for Honduran national Nehemia Noel Fuentes‑Banegas. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Fuentes‑Banegas is accused of attempting to disarm a Fairfax County police officer during an encounter in Annandale, Virginia. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- An officer fired his service weapon, grazing Fuentes‑Banegas’ shoulder. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- ICE is requesting Fairfax County notify federal authorities before releasing Fuentes‑Banegas and to transfer him to ICE custody. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The incident has intensified debate over Virginia sanctuary policies, with criticism of Governor Abigail Spanberger’s executive order ending cooperation with ICE. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-31: U.S. ICE expands airport enforcement targeting migrants

ICE has extended airport raids, stopping travelers at 15 U.S. airports and targeting migrants with pending status, under a Trump‑set goal of 2,000 daily arrests.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ice-detains-honduran-migrant-accused-of-trying-to-disarm-virginia-police-officer

### 2026-07-28: Fairfax County Police Shoot Domestic Violence Suspect in Annandale, VA

Fairfax County police shot and captured Nehemia Fuentes Banegas after he tried to seize an officer’s gun during a July 28 domestic‑violence incident in Annandale, VA; he faces charges for attempted disarming.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/fairfax-county-police-shoot-domestic-violence-suspect-in-annandale-va

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Cite as: Fairfax County police shooting and ICE detainer. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/fairfax-county-police-shooting-and-ice-detainer