SPRINGFIELD, Va. – Fairfax County police are investigating two homicides that happened less than two miles apart that are believed to be possibly connected.
Police say 22-year-old Henok Yohannes was found dead Thursday inside his Springfield home in the 6400 block of Blarney Stone Court after they received a call at around 8:15 p.m. Authorities found Yohannes with apparent trauma to the upper body.
On Friday, police said 22-year-old Kedest Sileshi Simeneh of Springfield was found leaning against a tree and not moving by a homeowner in their yard in the 6500 block of Cordwood Court in Burke. The resident contacted police and medical personnel found the woman deceased at the scene — also with upper body trauma.
Police said Yohannes and Simeneh’s deaths do not appear to be random.
“We have almost of all of our homicide squad out here, we have crime scene detectives out here, we have an investigator from the medical examiner’s office and they have divided up both scenes to try to work very diligently through the details to find out what circumstances are surrounding this that may be linking these cases and who could possibly be involved,” said Fairfax County police spokesperson Monica Meeks.
A candlelight vigil was held in Springfield Friday night for Yohannes. People stood together, with some crying, in a silent remembrance. Yohannes, a native of Ethiopia, was remembered as a person who loved soccer. People said he was an amazing person with so much to offer and everyone here was shocked by the sudden loss of two lives.
“It’s really sad that something like that would happen to two young individuals — 22 years old,” said one vigil attendee. “They had their whole lives ahead of them.”
“Henok wasn’t a violent person,” another person said. “He would never get violent with anyone. I don’t think I have ever met a more positive person in my life.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131 or Crime Solvers at http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES (274637) or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).
fox5dc.