FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2018
Contact:
Kraig Troxell, Media Relations and Communications Manager, 703-771-5278
[email protected]
Alex Kowalski, Public Information Officer, 703-777-0625
[email protected]
Loudoun County, VA- A fitness tracking app and information from the public helped identify a cyclist in the assault of another cyclist last month on the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail.
Detectives with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office discovered the suspect was utilizing the STRAVA app as he traveled in the area of the assault. Through the investigation and interviews with independent witnesses, Edward A. Shortnacy, 48, of Vienna, was positively identified as the suspect. Shortnacy was charged today with malicious wounding.
The charge stems from an incident April 22 where the victim was riding his bike west on the W&OD Trail near Ashburn Village Boulevard and was attempting to pass two bicyclists. He was reportedly riding on the center line when the suspect was coming from the opposite direction. The suspect reached his arm out intentionally and struck the victim on his helmet. The victim fell to the ground and was seriously injured. The suspect rode off in the opposite direction.
The victim was taken to the Lansdowne Campus of Inova Loudoun Hospital and later transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital and was later released.
Shortnacy turned himself over to authorities Thursday morning and was released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
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