Fairfax County, Virginia – A 32-year-old man from Sierra Leone, who entered the United States illegally and has a history of more than 30 prior arrests, has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a bus stop in Hybla Valley.
The incident, which occurred on February 23, 2026, has drawn attention to immigration enforcement and local criminal justice practices in Virginia.
Authorities responded to reports of an unresponsive woman at a bus shelter along Richmond Highway near Arlington Drive around 9 p.m. on the night of the attack.
Minter, a resident of Fredericksburg, was found with multiple stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by emergency responders. Fairfax County Police Department detectives used surveillance footage and witness interviews to identify Abdul Jalloh as the suspect, noting he was the last person seen with Minter before the stabbing.
Jalloh was arrested the following day and charged with second-degree murder, along with petit larceny for an unrelated incident earlier that evening.
Court records reveal Jalloh’s extensive criminal background, spanning over a decade since his illegal entry into the U.S. in 2012. His arrests include charges for rape in 2018, multiple counts of malicious wounding (including four stabbings), assault, drug possession, identity theft, trespassing, discharging a firearm, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and pickpocketing. Many of these charges were dropped or reduced by prosecutors, allowing Jalloh to remain free despite repeated offenses. Sources indicate he is currently homeless and has no fixed address.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Jalloh’s status as an undocumented immigrant and has issued an immigration detainer, requesting that Virginia authorities transfer him to federal custody rather than release him. DHS officials described the killing as “preventable,” criticizing Virginia’s non-cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under current state policies.
“We are calling on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this murderer and violent career criminal from their jail without notifying ICE,” a DHS statement read.
Minter’s family remembered her in an obituary as “a beam of light in dark places,” highlighting her warmth and positive impact on those around her. She was a mother, and her death has sparked public outcry on social media, with users decrying the repeated releases of Jalloh despite his violent history.
One post noted, “This illegal alien’s murder of an innocent, beautiful American woman came less than 24 hours before Governor Spanberger’s demonization of ICE law enforcement.”
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, whose office has faced scrutiny for dropping charges in Jalloh’s prior cases, has not yet commented on the specifics of this incident. Jalloh is being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for later this month.
The case has reignited debates over immigration policies and criminal justice reform in Virginia, with critics arguing that failures to deport or detain repeat offenders contributed to the tragedy. Investigations are ongoing, and police encourage anyone with additional information to contact them.
