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Harrison Charles Deppe

Gender : Male

Age : 52

Race : White

Date : 07/17/2025

Location : Potomac Mills Circle near Garza Way

City : Woodbridge

County : Prince William

State : Virginia

Agency : Prince William County Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during arrest

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On July 17, 2025, Prince William County Police responded to multiple reports of a man pointing a gun at pedestrians near the Potomac Mills Mall area. Officers located Harrison Charles Deppe sitting in a vehicle near Potomac Mills Circle. The situation escalated into a prolonged standoff lasting several hours, during which negotiators attempted to communicate with Deppe.
After hours of negotiations failed, Deppe exited the vehicle armed not with a firearm, but a crossbow. He then ran toward the busy Potomac Mills Mall outlet. Responding SWAT officers perceived an imminent threat and opened fire, fatally shooting Deppe at the scene. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
Authorities confirmed that Deppe carried no conventional firearm but instead wielded the crossbow, which had arrows that could have caused serious injury or death. The incident caused a significant law enforcement response and temporary evacuation of parts of the mall area.
The Prince William County Police Department’s Critical Incident Response Team has taken over the investigation. Body camera footage and surveillance from the scene are being reviewed to assess the officers’ actions and the overall circumstances.
The incident has raised community discussions about the risks officers face with unconventional weapons and the challenges of negotiating with armed individuals in crowded public spaces.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.potomaclocal.com/2025/07/17/man-shot-killed-by-police-after-running-toward-potomac-mills-mall-with-crossbow/
https://www.fox5dc.com/news/police-id-man-fatally-shot-officers-outside-potomac-mills-outlet-mall
https://wjla.com/news/local/crossbow-police-fatally-shoot-armed-suspect-potomac-mills-shopping-complex-woodbridge-va-prince-william-county-police-gun-birchdale-avenue-garza-way-potomac-mill-circle
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/07/19/crossbow-police-kill-potomac-mills/