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

Arlington, VA
Breaking News
Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested For 'Inappropriate Behavior' Toward Metro Customers: Police Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested For 'Inappropriate Behavior' Toward Metro Customers: Police Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested For 'Inappropriate Behavior' Toward Metro Customers: Police
Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested For 'Inappropriate Behavior' Toward Metro Customers: Police A pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and Proud Boys fanatic was arrested after going viral for livestreaming himself touching the hair of unsuspecting women on Metro trains, authorities announced. Bryan Betancur, 28, was arrested by Metro Transit Police hours after issuing an alert asking for the public’s help identifying him in connection with an alleged assault on a Silver Line train. We are aware of videos circulating on social media depicting inappropriate behavior toward Metro customers. We’re taking reports seriously and actively investigating every lead. If you have information about this ind…

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by Zak Failla
Damascus, MD
Breaking News
Speeding Driver Ejected, Killed In Late-Night Violent Multi-Vehicle Crash In Damascus Speeding Driver Ejected, Killed In Late-Night Violent Multi-Vehicle Crash In Damascus Speeding Driver Ejected, Killed In Late-Night Violent Multi-Vehicle Crash In Damascus
Speeding Driver Ejected, Killed In Late-Night Violent Multi-Vehicle Crash In Damascus A Maryland man was killed in a violent late-night crash after witnesses reported he was speeding moments before impact, police say. Montgomery County Police and Fire Rescue crews were dispatched at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, to Ridge Road north of Sweepstakes Road in Damascus for a reported multi-vehicle collision, according to the department. When first responders arrived, they found the driver of a Toyota Camry lying in the roadway after being ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said a Lexus NX350 driven by a woman was also involved in…

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by Zak Failla
Odenton, MD
Breaking News
Knife-Wielding Son Shot By Stepfather After Alleged Attack On Mom In Odenton: Police Knife-Wielding Son Shot By Stepfather After Alleged Attack On Mom In Odenton: Police Knife-Wielding Son Shot By Stepfather After Alleged Attack On Mom In Odenton: Police
Knife-Wielding Son Shot By Stepfather After Alleged Attack On Mom In Odenton: Police A knife-wielding man who assaulted and robbed his mother was shot by his stepfather during an altercation in Maryland on Tuesday morning, police say. The violence unfolded just before sunrise. Officers were called to the 400 block of Lisa Avenue in Odenton around 5 a.m. on March 3 for a report of family violence involving a shot fired, according to Anne Arundel County Police. Inside the home, investigators say an adult son stole a personal item from his mother and assaulted her, leaving her injured. After the attack, the woman’s husband stepped outside to call the police. That’s when the…

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by Zak Failla
Woodbridge, VA
Breaking News
Woodbridge Man Arrested After Deadly Potomac Mills Parking Lot Shooting, Police Say (UPDATED) Woodbridge Man Arrested After Deadly Potomac Mills Parking Lot Shooting, Police Say (UPDATED) Woodbridge Man Arrested After Deadly Potomac Mills Parking Lot Shooting, Police Say (UPDATED)
Woodbridge Man Arrested After Deadly Potomac Mills Parking Lot Shooting, Police Say (Updated) Two men have been tracked down and arrested after a 34-year-old man was shot and killed in the parking lot of Potomac Mills, according to the Prince William County Police Department. Chesterfield resident Clifton Joseph Douglas, 25, is facing a murder charge, and Woodbridge native Beau Wade Bishop, 28, is accused of being an accessory after the fact in connection with the fatal shooting of Baffour Asare Gundona. Shortly after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, officers from the department were called to investigate reports of shots fired with a man down in the parking lot, police said. Upo…

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by Zak Failla
Frederick, MD
Breaking News
Black Jeep, Broad Daylight Gunfire: Frederick Man Learns Prison Fate After Rampage Black Jeep, Broad Daylight Gunfire: Frederick Man Learns Prison Fate After Rampage Black Jeep, Broad Daylight Gunfire: Frederick Man Learns Prison Fate After Rampage
Black Jeep, Broad Daylight Gunfire: Frederick Man Learns Prison Fate After Rampage A Maryland man who opened fire from behind the wheel of a black Jeep Wrangler during a violent afternoon in 2025 will serve more than a decade in prison. Nyzeir Tacwon Sampson, 29, was sentenced in Frederick County Circuit Court to 30 years, with 12 years and 296 days to be served in the Division of Corrections, after pleading guilty to attempted murder and other violent offenses, authorities announced on Monday. Specifically, Sampson pleaded guilty to: Attempted second-degree murder; First-degree assault; Possession of a loaded handgun. The violence unfolded on April 28, 2025. Frederi…

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by Zak Failla
Stafford, VA
Breaking News
Decades After Daughter’s Murder, Virginia Parents Turn Reward Fund Into Gift For Animals Decades After Daughter’s Murder, Virginia Parents Turn Reward Fund Into Gift For Animals Decades After Daughter’s Murder, Virginia Parents Turn Reward Fund Into Gift For Animals
Decades After Daughter’s Murder, Virginia Parents Turn Reward Fund Into Gift For Animals A decades-old murder that once gripped Virginia is now helping animals in need. On Monday, March 2, Sue and Mark Baker donated $5,525 to the Stafford County Animal Shelter, transforming the original reward fund created after the 1989 abduction and murder of their daughter, Amy Baker, into a gift of hope. Amy Baker was just 18 years old when she was abducted and killed in Fairfax County on March 29, 1989. For years, her case remained unsolved. Amy Baker Fairfax County Police In 2024, a Stafford County Sheriff’s Office cold case investigation used forensic investigative genetic genea…

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by Zak Failla
Annandale, VA
Breaking News
Maryland Woman Struck, Killed By BMW While Crossing Roadway In Annandale: Police Maryland Woman Struck, Killed By BMW While Crossing Roadway In Annandale: Police Maryland Woman Struck, Killed By BMW While Crossing Roadway In Annandale: Police
Maryland Woman Struck, Killed By BMW While Crossing Roadway In Annandale: Police A Maryland woman was struck and killed by a BMW while crossing a busy roadway over the weekend. Officers responded shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, to a stretch of John Marr Drive between Backlick Road and Ravensworth Road in Annandale, where there were reports of a pedestrian who had been hit, according to Fairfax County Police. Investigators determined that the driver of a 2012 BMW was traveling westbound on John Marr Drive toward Ravensworth Road when the collision occurred. The pedestrian, Sun Hyo Kim, 56, of Annandale, was crossing John Marr Drive from the south side t…

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by Zak Failla
Alexandria, VA
Breaking News
30 Years Later, Virginia State Police Still Seek Answers In Alicia Reynolds Murder 30 Years Later, Virginia State Police Still Seek Answers In Alicia Reynolds Murder 30 Years Later, Virginia State Police Still Seek Answers In Alicia Reynolds Murder
30 Years Later, Virginia State Police Still Seek Answers In Alicia Reynolds Murder Three decades later, Virginia State Police are still working the case of Alicia Showalter Reynolds as if it happened yesterday. Reynolds, 26, was abducted along Route 29 in Culpeper County on March 2, 1996, while traveling from Baltimore to Charlottesville. Her vehicle was found parked on the southbound shoulder of Route 29, where witnesses reported seeing a white male standing outside with her car. The man was described as approximately 35 to 45 years old, with a medium build and light to medium brown hair. He was believed to be between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall and driving a dark-colored…

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by Zak Failla
Pasadena-Lake Shore, MD
Breaking News
Repeat Sex Offender From Pasadena With Previous Convictions Sexually Exploited Child: DOJ Repeat Sex Offender From Pasadena With Previous Convictions Sexually Exploited Child: DOJ Repeat Sex Offender From Pasadena With Previous Convictions Sexually Exploited Child: DOJ
Repeat Sex Offender From Pasadena With Previous Convictions Sexually Exploited Child: DOJ A repeat sex offender from Maryland has admitted to sexually exploiting a child and now faces decades in federal prison. Patrick Daniel McKernan, 45, of Pasadena, pleaded guilty in federal court in Baltimore on Monday, March 2, to sexual exploitation of a child, according to the US Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors say McKernan persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct. According to the guilty plea, McKernan exploited the minor child for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. In November 2023, McKernan pro…

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by Zak Failla
Hagerstown, MD
Your Community
Moore Takes On Trump: Maryland Files Lawsuit To Block Possible $102M ICE Detention Center Moore Takes On Trump: Maryland Files Lawsuit To Block Possible $102M ICE Detention Center Moore Takes On Trump: Maryland Files Lawsuit To Block Possible $102M ICE Detention Center
Moore Takes On Trump: Maryland Files Lawsuit To Block Possible $102M ICE Detention Center Maryland is suing the Trump administration over plans to use a warehouse in Washington County as an ICE detention center, Governor Wes Moore announced. Moore said the state is taking legal action in partnership with Attorney General Anthony Brown to block what he described as an ICE operation that would strain local public services and create fear in the community. “Hey, get in here. We're suing the Trump administration,” Moore said in a video posted Monday afternoon. “ICE is currently trying to use a warehouse space in Washington County as a detention center. Putting a strain on our local…

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by Zak Failla
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