It was just after sunrise on a chilly Monday morning when a road rage encounter turned violent at the intersection of Lawson Road SE and Trailview Boulevard SE in Leesburg.
Leesburg Police say it started with a routine traffic spat—but it escalated quickly. According to officers, 44-year-old Qadishtu Immiatiratu of Leesburg got out of his car armed with a machete, approached another vehicle, and smashed its passenger-side window before driving off. Thankfully, no one inside the car was reported injured, but it was a jarring wake-up call for commuters.
Police caught up with Immiatiratu a short time later and arrested him. He’s now facing charges of assault and brandishing a weapon and is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.
The motive behind the altercation hasn’t been released, and police say the investigation is ongoing. They’re asking anyone who saw what happened—or might have dashcam footage—to give them a call at 703-771-4500.
As Loudoun County continues to grow and traffic congestion becomes an everyday frustration, this incident is a reminder of how quickly tempers can flare—and how dangerous that can be.
