ALEXANDRIA, VA — The man charged in the fatal June 10 stabbing of 32-year-old Marvin Waters at a bus stop near the Huntington Metro station was reportedly living illegally in a storage unit just across the city line in Alexandria, according to a recently filed search warrant affidavit.
Robert Andrew Reed was arrested five days after the stabbing, on June 15, near the very same bus bay at the Huntington Metro where the crime took place. Fairfax County Police described the incident as isolated, but the details that have since emerged point to a disturbing and complex case involving transience, drug possession, and fatal violence.
Blood-Stained Jacket and Metro Surveillance
After Waters was fatally stabbed, Reed was caught on Metro surveillance cameras allegedly fleeing the area on foot and then boarding a Metrobus from Huntington Station to Potomac Yard Station. According to detectives, video footage from the bus and station shows Reed wearing a jacket visibly stained with what appeared to be blood. That jacket has not yet been recovered.
Detectives worked in coordination with Metro Transit Police to trace Reed’s movements and identify his last known location.
Storage Unit as Living Space
Through their investigation, detectives discovered that Reed had been residing less than half a mile from the Potomac Yard Metro station at Mini U Storage, located at 405 Swann Avenue in Alexandria.
“When shown a known photograph of Reed that was taken after his arrest, the staff acknowledged they recognized Reed and knew him to be living in [a unit] of the facility,” according to the affidavit.
Living in a storage unit is illegal in Virginia, as such facilities are not zoned or equipped for residential use. Police did not indicate how long Reed had been living there, but the location played a key role in the investigation and led to a search of his unit and belongings.
Evidence Seized During Arrest
When Reed was taken into custody and searched, police found items pointing not only to his alleged involvement in the stabbing but also to drug-related activity. Among the evidence recovered:
A folding knife, possibly linked to the stabbing
Two keys, one for a mailbox and one for a Mini U Storage unit
Materials consistent with drug packaging
A cut straw, commonly used to consume drugs
Multiple small bags containing substances resembling crack cocaine and fentanyl, packaged in a manner consistent with drug distribution
The presence of both illicit substances and paraphernalia has led to additional charges beyond the murder accusation.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Reed has been formally charged with:
Second-Degree Murder for the fatal stabbing of Marvin Waters
Two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I/II Drugs, related to the substances seized during his arrest
He is currently being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on September 3.
Community Shocked by Details
The revelation that Reed had been living in a storage unit just minutes from where the murder occurred has added a layer of shock to an already unsettling case. While Fairfax County Police described the stabbing as isolated, the circumstances raise broader concerns about homelessness, public safety, and illegal drug activity in the region.
Authorities have not disclosed any possible motive behind the stabbing, nor whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
Ongoing Investigation
As Reed awaits trial, both Fairfax County and Alexandria police continue their investigation. Detectives are still working to recover the jacket worn during the crime and to determine whether any additional suspects or accomplices were involved.
Anyone with information related to the stabbing or Reed’s activities before or after June 10 is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
The case remains a stark reminder of the complex intersections between homelessness, drug abuse, and violent crime in urban areas like the D.C. metro region.
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