WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Baffour Asare Gundona, a 34‑year‑old man from Alexandria, died Wednesday night after being shot during a confrontation in the parking lot of the Potomac Mills shopping center. The violent clash unfolded just after 7 p.m. on February 24, leaving loved ones and community members shaken and police still searching for answers.
Official accounts show that Prince William County officers were called to the 2700 block of Potomac Mills Circle in Woodbridge shortly after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found Gundona suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body inside a parked vehicle. He managed to get out of the car on his own but collapsed in the parking area. Emergency responders gave first aid at the scene before he was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
Investigators say Gundona and another man were involved in an argument inside a car when gunfire erupted. Details about what sparked that confrontation have not been released, but police emphasize the shooting does not appear to be random. The other man left the scene before officers arrived. Witnesses in the busy lot recall moments of fear as the incident unfolded near the mall’s entrances.
After firing the shot that struck Gundona, the suspected shooter fled the area in a separate vehicle and remains unlocated. Authorities are carefully piecing together statements and reviewing evidence to determine what led up to the deadly encounter. Detectives remain engaged in a homicide investigation as they seek to identify the suspect and bring clarity to Gundona’s final moments.
Friends and family described Gundona as a quiet, ordinary man with deep connections to his
community in Alexandria. They speak of his warmth and generosity, now forever remembered against the grim backdrop of that winter night. For many who knew him, the fact that a routine evening at a popular shopping destination turned fatal hits hard.
Police are urging anyone who saw the shooting or the suspect vehicle to come forward. Calls from witnesses in the crowded mall area could help investigators develop leads. The department continues to stress that public safety remains a priority as detectives follow up on tips and continue interviews around the case.
