FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (Diya TV) — A brutal domestic stabbing in Northern Virginia has left two women dead, a man critically injured, and a family shattered, after police say a Nepali-born man attacked his relatives inside their home before being fatally shot by officers.
The incident unfolded in the early hours of February 23, 2026, inside an apartment in the Mantua neighborhood of Fairfax County, a typically quiet suburban community. Authorities say 54-year-old Chhatra Thapa used a large curved blade, described by investigators as a Nepali-style knife, to carry out the attack.
Police say Thapa fatally stabbed his wife, 52-year-old Binda Thapa, and his daughter, 33-year-old Mamta Thapa, inside the residence. He then turned the weapon on his son-in-law, Santosh Basnet, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.
By the time officers arrived, the violence was still underway. Body camera footage later released by police shows officers entering the apartment and finding Thapa actively attacking Basnet. Officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapon. When he did not comply and continued the assault, an officer opened fire, striking Thapa multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the officer’s actions likely prevented further loss of life.
The first signs of the attack came through frantic 911 calls. Authorities say Basnet had been outside clearing snow when he heard a disturbance and rushed back inside, only to encounter what investigators later described as an extremely violent scene. A neighbor also called 911 after hearing screams and someone banging on her door for help. One of the victims was able to make it outside the apartment despite severe injuries before collapsing.
Amid the chaos, a 1-year-old child, the grandson of the suspect, was inside the apartment. Police confirmed the child was not physically injured and has since been placed with family members.
In the days following the attack, Basnet has begun to share his account of what happened, describing a scene of unimaginable trauma and loss. Speaking from his hospital recovery, he has expressed grief over the deaths of his wife and mother-in-law while also acknowledging the swift response of first responders. Community members say his focus remains on surviving the injuries and caring for his young child, who was present during the attack but unharmed.
The victims were part of a Nepali immigrant family living together in the Fairfax County home. Neighbors described hearing desperate cries for help, underscoring how sudden and shocking the violence was in an otherwise quiet residential area. Members of the community have since rallied around Basnet and the child, organizing vigils and offering support.
A prayer gathering held in the victims’ honor brought together members of the local Nepali and South Asian community, who mourned the loss and called for unity during a time of grief. Attendees lit candles, offered prayers, and remembered Mamta and Binda Thapa as devoted family members whose lives were cut short in an act of violence that has deeply shaken the community.
Investigators say there were no prior calls for service at the residence and no known history of domestic incidents involving the family. Authorities have not yet identified a clear motive for the attack. Police have indicated that Thapa may have had a history of mental health challenges, though officials caution that such conditions do not typically lead to acts of extreme violence.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on restricted duty as part of standard procedure while both criminal and administrative reviews are conducted. Police leadership has defended the use of force, stating it was necessary to stop an active and ongoing attack.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine what led to the deadly violence that claimed two lives and left a family permanently altered.
