Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

[email protected]

FOLLOW ON

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

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

Towson, MD
Breaking News
Suspect Arrested Months After Deadly October 2025 Shooting In Baltimore: Police Suspect Arrested Months After Deadly October 2025 Shooting In Baltimore: Police Suspect Arrested Months After Deadly October 2025 Shooting In Baltimore: Police
Suspect Arrested Months After Deadly October 2025 Shooting In Baltimore: Police Months after a deadly shooting in Maryland, police say they have apprehended their suspect. Following a lengthy investigation, Darrien Robinson Jr., 23, was arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Darrius Hines in October 2025, according to the Baltimore Police Department. A homicide probe was launched late in the afternoon on Oct. 15, 2025, when officers were called to the 500 block of Callender Street to investigate reports of shots fired. When they arrived, officers found Hines suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Robi…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Fairfax, VA
Breaking News
Cold Case: Gunshots Heard, No 911 Call In 2021 Apartment Murder Of 19-Year-Old In Groveton Cold Case: Gunshots Heard, No 911 Call In 2021 Apartment Murder Of 19-Year-Old In Groveton Cold Case: Gunshots Heard, No 911 Call In 2021 Apartment Murder Of 19-Year-Old In Groveton
Cold Case: Gunshots Heard, No 911 Call In 2021 Apartment Murder Of 19-Year-Old In Groveton A teenager was shot and killed inside a Virginia apartment in the middle of the day — neighbors heard gunshots — and no one called 911. Now, more than four years later, detectives are asking the community to finally come forward. At 7:12 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Groveton, officers responded to the 3100 block of Southgate Drive after a family member found Ronald Worthy Jr., 19, of Alexandria, dead inside an apartment, Fairfax County Police said. Upon arrival, they found Worthy suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body. He had last been seen earlier that morning, according t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Rockville, MD
Breaking News
Antisemitic Graffiti Defaces Montgomery County Synagogue As Leaders Condemn ‘Act Of Hate’ Antisemitic Graffiti Defaces Montgomery County Synagogue As Leaders Condemn ‘Act Of Hate’ Antisemitic Graffiti Defaces Montgomery County Synagogue As Leaders Condemn ‘Act Of Hate’
Antisemitic Graffiti Defaces Montgomery County Synagogue As Leaders Condemn ‘Act Of Hate’ A synagogue in Maryland was defaced with antisemitic graffiti on Tuesday, prompting swift condemnation from elected officials and Jewish community leaders. In Olney, on Feb. 10, graffiti was discovered spray-painted across the main sign of Congregation Shaare Tefila on Georgia Avenue, according to local officials and community leaders. The vandalism included markings scrawled over the synagogue’s name and Star of David, as well as damage to signage on the property. “The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington is appalled by the discovery of antisemitic graffiti defacing Congregation Shaare…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Silver Spring, MD
Breaking News
19-Year-Old Lexus Driver Charged Weeks After Deadly Crash That Killed Teen In Silver Spring: PD 19-Year-Old Lexus Driver Charged Weeks After Deadly Crash That Killed Teen In Silver Spring: PD 19-Year-Old Lexus Driver Charged Weeks After Deadly Crash That Killed Teen In Silver Spring: PD
19-Year-Old Lexus Driver Charged Weeks After Deadly Crash That Killed Teen In Silver Spring: PD The 19-year-old Lexus driver who was behind the wheel when a Maryland teen was killed after the car crashed into a utility pole has been charged, authorities announced. Silver Spring resident Zaher Qais was found to be at fault for the multi-vehicle crash that claimed the life of 15-year-old Pasadena native Tayeba Rezaie last month. Officers were called shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 14 to the intersection of Lockwood Drive and Northwest Drive in Silver Spring, where there was a reported crash with several people injured, police say. The investigation determined that before the crash, a…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Breaking News
Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Tina Walls Found Dead With Gunshot Wound, State Police Say Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Tina Walls Found Dead With Gunshot Wound, State Police Say Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Tina Walls Found Dead With Gunshot Wound, State Police Say
Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Tina Walls Found Dead With Gunshot Wound, State Police Say The longtime chief prosecutor of Mathews County was found dead Tuesday morning with an apparent gunshot wound, prompting a state police investigation. Virginia State Police announced on Tuesday, Feb. 10, that the agency's Criminal Investigation Chesapeake Field Office confirmed it is conducting a death investigation involving Tina M. Walls, 59, of Mathews, who served as the county’s Commonwealth’s Attorney. Police said the investigation is centered on the 4500 block of New Point Comfort Highway, where Walls was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. State police were requeste…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Olney, MD
Breaking News
Nearly One Year Later, Driver Charged In Deadly Freightliner Crash That Dragged SUV In Olney Nearly One Year Later, Driver Charged In Deadly Freightliner Crash That Dragged SUV In Olney Nearly One Year Later, Driver Charged In Deadly Freightliner Crash That Dragged SUV In Olney
Nearly One Year Later, Driver Charged In Deadly Freightliner Crash That Dragged SUV In Olney A driver has been charged in Maryland nearly one year after a violent crash that killed a 28-year-old woman and dragged her SUV several hundred feet through a busy Montgomery County intersection. Andrew Joe Machinjiri, 25, of Severn, was charged on Tuesday, Feb. 10, in connection with the fatal collision that took the life of Silver Spring resident Jiwon Kim last year. At approximately 12:48 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Silver Spring, Montgomery County Police and Fire and Rescue crews responded to the intersection of Norbeck Road and Layhill Road for a report of a crash involving two v…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Lexington Park, MD
Breaking News
Teen Awaiting Sentencing Busted Again On Child Porn Charges In St. Mary's County: State Police Teen Awaiting Sentencing Busted Again On Child Porn Charges In St. Mary's County: State Police Teen Awaiting Sentencing Busted Again On Child Porn Charges In St. Mary's County: State Police
Teen Awaiting Sentencing Busted Again On Child Porn Charges In St. Mary's County: State Police A Maryland teen who previously pleaded guilty in a child pornography case is back behind bars after state police say he was caught with illicit materials — again. In Clements, troopers arrested 19-year-old Leonard Nelson Jr., following an investigation into the possession and distribution of child pornography after he was flagged by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation began in December 2025, when Maryland State Police received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, police said. Detectives with the Maryland …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Aldie, VA
Breaking News
120 MPH Virginia Chase Ends After Stolen Car Hits Deputy’s Cruiser, Flips: Sheriff 120 MPH Virginia Chase Ends After Stolen Car Hits Deputy’s Cruiser, Flips: Sheriff 120 MPH Virginia Chase Ends After Stolen Car Hits Deputy’s Cruiser, Flips: Sheriff
120 MPH Virginia Chase Ends After Stolen Car Hits Deputy’s Cruiser, Flips: Sheriff A stolen car ripped through Virginia at 120 mph before slamming into a deputy’s cruiser and flipping onto a snowy embankment, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. Early in the afternoon on Monday, Feb. 9, a License Plate Reader alerted deputies to a vehicle reported stolen out of Virginia Beach, setting off a frenzied series of events that ended with a car in the woods and Norfolk resident Dazour Brown behind bars. Deputies attempted to stop the speeding vehicle, officials said, but Brown sped away instead, reaching 120 mph in a 55 mph zone while trying to avoid arrest. Brown…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Your Community
Cupid Sidelined As Capitals Mascot Slapshot Delivers Valentine’s Day Surprises Cupid Sidelined As Capitals Mascot Slapshot Delivers Valentine’s Day Surprises Cupid Sidelined As Capitals Mascot Slapshot Delivers Valentine’s Day Surprises
Cupid Sidelined As Capitals Mascot Slapshot Delivers Valentine’s Day Surprises Cupid is sitting this one out. Instead, Washington Capitals mascot Slapshot will be knocking on doors across the DC region on Saturday, Feb. 14, delivering Valentine’s Day surprises that come with donuts, gifts, and a whole lot of unexpected Capitals energy, the team announced. In partnership with Dunkin’, Slapshot will spend Valentine’s Day making in-person deliveries to homes, offices, and other locations throughout the Washington area, showing up unannounced with a themed gift bundle for fans who signed up in advance. According to the Capitals, the Valentine’s Day deliveries will take p…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Rockville, MD
Breaking News
Teen Threatened Girl With Gun Before Thomas Wootton High School Shooting: Police Teen Threatened Girl With Gun Before Thomas Wootton High School Shooting: Police Teen Threatened Girl With Gun Before Thomas Wootton High School Shooting: Police
Teen Threatened Girl With Gun Before Thomas Wootton High School Shooting: Police New details have been released that add a chilling layer to the school shooting in Maryland that left one student injured.  Rockville Police Chief Jason West said in an update on Tuesday, Feb. 10, that Kahlil White-Villatoro, 16, the student responsible for the shooting at Thomas S. Wootton High School, pointed a gun at a 15-year-old girl before opening fire and striking a classmate. The girl was uninjured. The 16-year-old boy who was shot remains in stable condition a day after the shooting, according to police. City of Rockville Rockville 11 Authorities said the investi…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Prev Page 326 of 3978 324 325 326 327 328 Next
3,251 - 3,260 of 39,774 articles