Fairfax County police have arrested a man for beating a 63-year-old woman to death on June 17 at a Hybla Valley bus stop in Alexandria.
Police say Michelle Huntley was found shortly after midnight that Friday with trauma to her upper body after being attacked at a covered bus stop near the corner of Richmond Highway (Rt. 1) and Belford Drive. She was treated at the hospital for more than a week before passing away on Saturday.
Chante Antonio Jones, 32, was charged in connection to the crime. An officer saw Jones wearing similar clothing from the night of the attack just one block away from where the deadly assault took place. Detectives determined Jones was the assailant and he was charged with aggravated malicious wounding and held without bond. Detectives continue to investigate to determine the relationship between Jones and Huntley.
The stop at which the attack took place is on the east side of Rt. 1 and sits just outside the Gum Springs Center shopping center. Both Metrobus and Fairfax Connector buses stop there frequently, although when Huntley was found shortly after midnight, only Fairfax Connector buses were still scheduled to be running. Police say they are not sure how long before she was found the attack happened.
People who frequent the area say Huntley was known by the nickname “Mama” and could often be seen sleeping at that bus stop at night. They are disgusted that anyone would kill the 63-year-old.
“She didn’t bother nobody. And I don’t know why somebody would do something like that,” said nearby resident Andrew Taylor. “She was five foot five, about 100, 110 pounds. So I mean, come on!”