Just after 10 a.m. this morning, Leesburg Police responded to a 911 call on Hancock Place NE about a baby who wasn’t breathing. Emergency responders rushed the infant to a nearby hospital, where the child remains in critical condition.
During the initial investigation, police determined the child had been assaulted.
The suspect—21-year-old Alvaro Mejia Ayala, of Leesburg—fled the scene on foot before officers arrived. A search began, and with help from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Mejia Ayala was located a few hours later near Meadows Lane NE, roughly a mile from the original call.
He has been charged with strangulation, and police say more charges may follow as the investigation continues.
Police have not yet released any further details about the relationship between Mejia Ayala and the infant.
This case has shaken neighbors in this quiet residential area east of downtown Leesburg. As police continue to gather evidence, they’re asking anyone who may have seen something—or who knows something—to come forward.
You can contact the Leesburg Police Department directly at 703-771-4500, or leave an anonymous tip at 703-443-TIPS (8477).
