A 29-year-old man was stabbed to death at a shopping center in Springfield, Virginia, after he was involved in an argument at a bar, according to an initial investigation by police.
Kieron Hart, of Springfield, was found about 2:10 a.m. Friday with severe injuries, in an alley behind Springfield Plaza on the 7200 block of Commerce Street, Fairfax County police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Jay Fasick, 30, of Springfield, was arrested and charged with killing Hart.
He ran to the other side of the shopping center, where witnesses told police they saw him break into a Pet Valu store. When officers arrived, they found Fasick injured inside the store.
Police believe Hart and Fasick argued at the bar Revolution, where the sign outside still bears its previous name, Fast Eddie's Billiard Cafe.
Staff in the bar noticed the two men arguing, co-owner Katherine Martell said they told her.
“Got into somewhat of a heated debate. It never became physical. No one ever thought that anything would come from it," she said.
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Both men were known at the bar, but police said they don't know whether they previously knew each other.
Later in the day Friday, police laid out evidence markers and tried to piece together what they found on the scene, including a shirt and a pair of headphones.
A window of the Pet Valu store was broken. Police said they did not know why Fasick allegedly broke into the store.
No employees were there at the time, and no pets were hurt.
Martell said her staff and her family, which owns the bar, is stunned by the killing.
“We really enjoy all the customers that come in, and something like this just truly breaks our heart," she said.
