Virginia police have released body‑camera video showing the final moments of a horrific stabbing incident inside a Mantua, Virginia, apartment, where Chhatra Thapa, 54, fatally stabbed his wife, Binda Thapa, 52, and daughter, Mamta Thapa, 33, on February 23, 2025, and attacked his son‑in‑law.
What led to the shooting
On a snowy morning around 5 a.m., the son‑in‑law was outside shoveling snow when he heard a commotion and called 911 before entering the Persimmon Drive apartment. A neighbor, Ariana Eddleman, said she heard Mamta Thapa screaming and banging on her door, but her husband urged caution and she immediately dialed 911 instead.
Inside, police say Chhatra Thapa had already stabbed his daughter Mamta and was in the process of stabbing his wife Binda when the son‑in‑law arrived; he then turned the knife on his son‑in‑law. Fairfax County officers were dispatched and one officer’s body camera captures the moment he arrives at the apartment building, hears screams, and sees blood on neighboring doors before entering.
The officer’s use of force
In the released footage, the officer can be heard yelling “Fairfax County police, open the door!” before entering the unit. Once inside, he sees Chhatra Thapa across a bloody living room, apparently holding a curved knife; after the officer repeatedly orders him to drop the weapon, Thapa raises the blade and strikes down, prompting the officer to fire five shots, killing him.
Police say Thapa was “literally in progress stabbing his son” when the officers entered, with the son‑in‑law between his baby and his father‑in‑law. The 1‑year‑old child was unharmed and taken into protective custody through child protective services, while Mamta and Binda Thapa were pronounced dead at a hospital and the son‑in‑law was hospitalized in life‑threatening condition; his current status has not been publicly updated.
