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Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

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Equal parts Lois Lane, J. Jonah Jameson and Vicki Vale, Zak! has traveled from coast-to-coast covering small and big town community news in both in print and online for nearly a decade since his graduation from the award-winning Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in 2010.

Before settling into the Hudson Valley, Zak! previously spent time in the New York Daily News newsroom and worked for hyperlocal digital news outlets on Long Island. He wrote sports for The Ithacan and The Ithaca Journal before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he served as the sports editor at the Shoshone News-Press until heading back east to work with Daily Voice.

Zak Failla's Contributions

Sports
Who Heckled Jalen Brunson? Viral Video Tries To ID Courtside Spurs Fans Who Heckled Jalen Brunson? Viral Video Tries To ID Courtside Spurs Fans
Who Heckled Jalen Brunson? Viral Video Tries To ID Courtside Spurs Fans Who were the courtside fans jawing with Jalen Brunson? A video circulating on social media is trying to identify the man and woman who exchanged words with Jalen Brunson during New York's 105-95 comeback win on Wednesday, June 3, over San Antonio, after the star guard's heated interaction with the courtside fans went viral. The New Brunswick, NJ native and Villanova graduate had 30 points in the win, including a corner 3-pointer that helped the Knicks pull away. But it was his courtside exchange in the final seconds that kept fans talking after the game. “Brunson with 30 points ... ha…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Teen Hit 120 MPH In Stolen Camaro Before Crashing Into VA House, Running From Deputies: Sheriff Teen Hit 120 MPH In Stolen Camaro Before Crashing Into VA House, Running From Deputies: Sheriff
Teen Hit 120 MPH In Stolen Camaro Before Crashing Into VA House, Running From Deputies: Sheriff Two teens in Northern Virginia took deputies on a high-speed chase in a Camaro that topped 120 mph before the 19-year-old driver lost control and came to rest against a house on Wednesday night. A juvenile was taken into custody, and Manassas native Manuel D. Edwards is at large following a wild police pursuit through Warrenton, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office. Late on June 3, investigators say Edwards pushed the stolen Camaro to its limits after a License Plate Reader hit led deputies to clock him traveling 100 mph on Catlett Road in Calverton. The deputy attempted to st…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Shotgun-Wielding Man Threatened Kids, Neighbors During Hagerstown Tirade: Sheriff Shotgun-Wielding Man Threatened Kids, Neighbors During Hagerstown Tirade: Sheriff
Shotgun-Wielding Man Threatened Kids, Neighbors During Hagerstown Tirade: Sheriff A man who threatened kids and neighbors while brandishing a shotgun was taken into custody following a brief standoff with police in Western Maryland. James Daniel Marker, 48, terrorized his neighbors in Hagerstown on Wednesday, June 3, when he took out a shotgun and began making threats in the 11300 block of Dogwood Drive, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with witnesses who said Marker made threats to kill children while holding a shotgun. He then barricaded himself inside his home. Due to the nature of the incident, the Washington County S…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Ashburn Man Who Sexually Abused Animal Accused Of Child Porn Offenses In Virginia, Sheriff Says Ashburn Man Who Sexually Abused Animal Accused Of Child Porn Offenses In Virginia, Sheriff Says
Ashburn Man Who Sexually Abused Animal Accused Of Child Porn Offenses In Virginia, Sheriff Says A Northern Virginia man with an alleged taste for both young children and animals is behind bars and facing serious charges. Jann Karlos Ramirez Ayala, 37, was arrested and charged this week in connection with multiple crimes against children and animals in Loudoun County, the sheriff's office announced on Thursday, June 4. In April, officials say an investigation was launched by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office after detectives were tipped off about his alleged actions. Ayala was arrested on Monday, June 1 and charged with: Production of child pornography; Possession of child pornogr…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Daughter, GF Charged With Murdering Silver Spring Mom Found Dead During Welfare Check: PD Daughter, GF Charged With Murdering Silver Spring Mom Found Dead During Welfare Check: PD
Daughter, GF Charged With Murdering Silver Spring Mom Found Dead During Welfare Check: PD A 29-year-old woman and her girlfriend are facing murder charges after her mother was found dead during a welfare check in Maryland, police say. Clarksburg resident Vanessa Tjongarero-Henderson and her partner, 36-year-old Phoenix resident Samantha Raebel, have been charged by detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police in connection with the killing of Hilde Henderson in Silver Spring last month. According to the department, at around 11:11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, officers were called to the Charter House in the 1300 block of Fenwick Lane to check on the welfare of a 67-yea…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Infant Dies From Dehydration, Malnourishment In DC Apartment; Mother Charged With Murder: MPD Infant Dies From Dehydration, Malnourishment In DC Apartment; Mother Charged With Murder: MPD
Infant Dies From Dehydration, Malnourishment In DC Apartment; Mother Charged With Murder: MPD A young mother is facing a murder charge after her two infant children were found suffering from severe neglect inside their Southeast DC home, according to police. One of them did not survive. Valencina Duke, 25, has been charged with the murder of 13-month-old Mazouri Jones, who was found in January with her 13-month-old brother inside an apartment suffering from dehydration and malnourishment, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. On Sunday, Jan. 18, officers were called to the 4700 block of Southern Avenue SE, where there were reports of an unconscious child. Inside, they fo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Manassas Man Shoots Himself Showing Off Gun, Then Faces Drug Charges, Police Say Manassas Man Shoots Himself Showing Off Gun, Then Faces Drug Charges, Police Say
Manassas Man Shoots Himself Showing Off Gun, Then Faces Drug Charges, Police Say Royale Cameron Loibman had a very bad day. The 26-year-old Virginia man was showing off a gun to a friend inside his vehicle when he accidentally shot himself. During the subsequent investigation, it turns out he may have also been selling weed on the side. Late last month, officers from the Prince William County Police Department were called to investigate a self-inflicted shooting that was reported in the 11400 block of Whispering Dove Place in Manassas. The shooting happened between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. that night, police said. Investigators say Loibman was sitting in his vehicle sho…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Driver Who Hit 100+ MPH Before Double-Fatal Christmas Crash In Fairfax Faces New Charges: VSP Driver Who Hit 100+ MPH Before Double-Fatal Christmas Crash In Fairfax Faces New Charges: VSP
Driver Who Hit 100+ MPH Before Double-Fatal Christmas Crash In Fairfax Faces New Charges: VSP Devin Juliana, the Ohio driver accused of barreling down I-495 at more than 100 mph before a Christmas night crash that killed a 75-year-old woman and her 15-year-old passenger, is facing two involuntary manslaughter charges in Virginia. The new charges were announced June 4, more than five months after the Fairfax County crash that killed Su Nguyen, 75, and a teenage passenger. First responders were called shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 25 to a stretch of eastbound lanes on the interstate when witnesses reported a Toyota Sienna minivan with heavy rear-end damage. All five people inside …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Days After Family Mourned Dalonte 'Boobie' Jackson, Police Rule Brutal Beating A Homicide In DC Days After Family Mourned Dalonte 'Boobie' Jackson, Police Rule Brutal Beating A Homicide In DC
Days After Family Mourned Dalonte 'Boobie' Jackson, Police Rule Brutal Beating A Homicide In DC The death of Dalonte Lamont Jackson, the DC man whose family said he was left unconscious after a brutal Memorial Day weekend attack, has now officially been ruled a homicide. Jackson, known to loved ones as "Boobie," died on Friday, May 29, after suffering severe injuries in an assault days earlier, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. The 35-year-old Northeast DC resident was found unconscious but still breathing shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, when Sixth District officers responded to the 3300 block of East Capitol Street NE. Police said Jackson was suffering fr…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Doorbell Prank Ends With 14-Year-Old Hurt, Woodbridge Man Facing Felony Charge: Police Doorbell Prank Ends With 14-Year-Old Hurt, Woodbridge Man Facing Felony Charge: Police
Doorbell Prank Ends With 14-Year-Old Hurt, Woodbridge Man Facing Felony Charge: Police An ill-fated game of "ding dong ditch" ended with a teen hurt and a 22-year-old man behind bars in Virginia, police say. Woodbridge resident Byron Steve Sandoval Polanco didn't take kindly to a 14-year-old ringing his doorbell and walking away on Monday afternoon, going after the teen and allegedly assaulting him, according to the Prince William County Police Department. Officers were called shortly after 4:20 p.m. on June 1 to the 14200 block of Radford Court in Woodbridge to investigate a reported assault that had just taken place. It is alleged the teen was with a friend when he rang Sa…

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by Zak Failla
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