Philip Austin Brant : “Woodbridge Man Suspect in Officer-Involved Shooting at Electric Union Training Center”

Philip Austin Brant, a 26-year-old resident of Woodbridge, has been identified as the primary suspect in an officer-involved shooting that took place at an apprenticeship training center located at 7016 Infantry Ridge Road near Manassas on February 13.

The tragic incident resulted in the death of Elijah Islam Safdi, a 23-year-old resident of Manassas, who was one of the victims of a stabbing. The other victim, a 23-year-old man from Fairfax, remains in critical condition and is currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), which includes members from Local Union 26 IBEW, operates a dedicated training center at the aforementioned address.

According to preliminary details released by the authorities, the incident unfolded following multiple 911 calls reporting an ongoing stabbing incident at the training center. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers encountered Philip Austin Brant at the entrance door, where he brandished a knife. Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, Brant continued to advance towards the officers, forcing them to discharge their department-issued handguns in self-defense, ultimately striking Brant.

Further investigation has revealed that the initial stabbing occurred inside one of the classrooms within the training center. Allegedly, Brant approached one of the victims and proceeded to stab him multiple times, leading to an escalating altercation that culminated in the second stabbing victim, Elijah Islam Safdi. Unfortunately, Safdi succumbed to his injuries.

Philip Austin Brant, the suspect in the incident, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is currently leading the ongoing investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, the two officers involved in the encounter, with five years and one-and-a-half years of service respectively in uniformed patrol operations, have been placed on routine paid administrative leave until the investigation is concluded.

Authorities are urging anyone who may have pertinent information regarding the incident to contact the Prince William County Police Department tipline at 703-792-7000 or submit a web tip at pwcva.gov/policetip. All received tips will be promptly relayed to CIRT investigators to aid in the progress of the investigation.