A 21-year-old man was taken into custody this afternoon following a manhunt in Leesburg, where police have charged him for strangling a baby who remains hospitalized in critical condition.
According to the Leesburg Police Department (LPD), officers responded around 10 a.m. to a report of an unresponsive infant in the unit block of Hancock Place NE. Investigators later determined the child had been assaulted.
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Shortly after the initial call, LPD identified the suspect as Alvaro Mejia Ayala, who allegedly fled the scene on foot around 10:30 a.m before police arrived.
LPD issued a community alert with Ayala’s photo and urged residents to call 911 if they spotted him.
Several hours into the search, LPD—assisted by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office—warned of a large police presence in the area while Ayala remained at large.
At approximately 3:18 p.m., Ayala was located in the 100 block of Meadows Lane NE and taken into custody.
He has been charged with strangulation, and police say additional charges may follow as the investigation continues.
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