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

Leesburg, VA
Breaking News
Explosion in Leesburg Dislodges Several Manhole Covers, Loudoun Fire Investigating Explosion in Leesburg Dislodges Several Manhole Covers, Loudoun Fire Investigating Explosion in Leesburg Dislodges Several Manhole Covers, Loudoun Fire Investigating
Explosion in Leesburg Dislodges Several Manhole Covers, Loudoun Fire Investigating Residents in a quiet Virginia neighborhood were jolted from their sleep early Sunday after what sounded like an explosion ripped through the area—sending manhole covers flying and prompting an investigation by fire marshals and police. Just after 4 a.m. on Oct. 5, Loudoun County’s Emergency Communications Center began receiving 911 calls reporting a blast near Sparkleberry Terrace and Ginkgo Terrace in northeast Leesburg, officials said. Crews from Leesburg, Hamilton, Ashburn and Lansdowne raced to the scene along with Leesburg Police, where they discovered several dislodged manhole covers …

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by Zak Failla
Landover, MD
Breaking News
Rifle-Toting Robber Wanted After Attempted Hold-Up At Landover Store: Police (VIDEO) Rifle-Toting Robber Wanted After Attempted Hold-Up At Landover Store: Police (VIDEO) Rifle-Toting Robber Wanted After Attempted Hold-Up At Landover Store: Police (VIDEO)
Rifle-Toting Robber Wanted After Attempted Hold-Up At Landover Store: Police (Video) Detectives in Maryland are searching for a masked gunman armed with a rifle who stormed into a Landover business and demanded cash before taking off empty-handed, police said. The botched holdup happened around 1:05 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25, at a business in the 7500 block of Landover Road, according to the Prince George’s County Police Department. Investigators said the suspect — dressed in dark clothing with a hooded sweatshirt — threatened employees with a rifle and demanded money.  Moments later, he fled without any cash, leaving workers shaken but unhurt. Video of the incident…

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by Zak Failla
Stafford, VA
Breaking News
Dinner Turns Dangerous: Drunk Woman Attacks Virginia Dad, BF Pulls Shotgun At Stafford Chipotle Dinner Turns Dangerous: Drunk Woman Attacks Virginia Dad, BF Pulls Shotgun At Stafford Chipotle Dinner Turns Dangerous: Drunk Woman Attacks Virginia Dad, BF Pulls Shotgun At Stafford Chipotle
Dinner Turns Dangerous: Drunk Woman Attacks Virginia Dad, BF Pulls Shotgun At Stafford Chipotle A dinner outing at a Virginia Chipotle erupted into chaos when an allegedly drunk woman attacked a man — and her boyfriend pulled a shotgun, deputies said. The wild scene unfolded around 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at the Chipotle on South Gateway Drive, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies were called to the restaurant for a disturbance involving a firearm, officials said.  When they arrived, investigators said they found that Aaliyah Thomas, 28, had approached the victim — a man who was there with his son — and assaulted him while intoxicated. Her boyfriend, ident…

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by Zak Failla
Fredericksburg, VA
Obituaries
‘Gone Far Too Soon’: Virginia Dad Killed In Crash, Family Begs To Bring Him Home To Guatemala ‘Gone Far Too Soon’: Virginia Dad Killed In Crash, Family Begs To Bring Him Home To Guatemala ‘Gone Far Too Soon’: Virginia Dad Killed In Crash, Family Begs To Bring Him Home To Guatemala
‘Gone Far Too Soon’: Virginia Dad Killed In Crash, Family Begs To Bring Him Home To Guatemala A Virginia family is heartbroken after a fatal crash claimed the life of Luis Barrera — a devoted husband, father, and friend described by loved ones as “gone far too soon.” Relatives said Barrera died following a car accident on Carrico Mills Road in Brandy Station, leaving behind his wife, Natalie, and their two young children, Julian and Kimmy. Luis Barrera GoFundMe The tragedy has rippled through both Virginia and Guatemala, where Barrera’s family is now working to raise money to bring him home. “He was a beloved father, son, and cousin — gone far too soon,” wrote Barrera’s cou…

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by Zak Failla
Woodbridge, VA
Breaking News
Teen Runs For Cover Into Arcade After 18-Year-Old Pulls Gun At Potomac Mills Mall: Police Teen Runs For Cover Into Arcade After 18-Year-Old Pulls Gun At Potomac Mills Mall: Police Teen Runs For Cover Into Arcade After 18-Year-Old Pulls Gun At Potomac Mills Mall: Police
Teen Runs For Cover Into Arcade After 18-Year-Old Pulls Gun At Potomac Mills Mall: Police An 18-year-old is behind bars after police say he pulled a gun on a 14-year-old during a confrontation inside Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge over the weekend. Officers were called to the shopping center at 2700 Potomac Mills Circle around 4:21 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, for a report of an altercation between two groups near the food court, according to Prince William County Police. Investigators said the argument between the teens escalated when one of the agitators, later identified as Marcus Dearunda Douglas Jr., brandished a firearm toward a 14-year-old boy in the other group. The teen tr…

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by Zak Failla
Stafford, VA
Breaking News
Man Drives Drunk Into Woods After Party — His 3rd DUI in 5 Years, Stafford Sheriff Says Man Drives Drunk Into Woods After Party — His 3rd DUI in 5 Years, Stafford Sheriff Says Man Drives Drunk Into Woods After Party — His 3rd DUI in 5 Years, Stafford Sheriff Says
Man Drives Drunk Into Woods After Party — His 3rd DUI in 5 Years, Stafford Sheriff Says The third time was far from the charm for a Milford man who found himself in a familiar position after drinking, driving, and crashing in Virginia.  Matthew Trego, 32, was hit with his third DUI offense in the past five years over the weekend after getting tipsy at a house party and ending up in the woods, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. Shortly after 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, deputies were called to Forest Lane Road, where there was a reported single-vehicle crash when the driver of a Ford found himself... in a forest.  Officials said that responding depu…

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by Zak Failla
Dundalk, MD
Obituaries
Dundalk Amazon Worker, 19, Fatally Struck While Riding Skateboard Home From Late Shift Dundalk Amazon Worker, 19, Fatally Struck While Riding Skateboard Home From Late Shift Dundalk Amazon Worker, 19, Fatally Struck While Riding Skateboard Home From Late Shift
Dundalk Amazon Worker, 19, Fatally Struck While Riding Skateboard Home From Late Shift A young man who had just finished a late shift at an Amazon warehouse was struck and killed on his way home in Maryland, leaving his family heartbroken and calling for help to lay him to rest. Dundalk resident José Fernando Romero, 19, was fatally hit by a pickup truck early Wednesday morning, Oct. 1, while riding his skateboard along Merritt Boulevard near Westfield Road, according to Baltimore County Police. Officers were called to the intersection around 5:45 a.m. for reports of a crash.  Investigators determined that Romero was traveling on Merritt Boulevard when he was hit by a 2…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Obituaries
Heartbroken Family Begs For Justice After Teen Jermaine Durbin Shot Dead In DC Heartbroken Family Begs For Justice After Teen Jermaine Durbin Shot Dead In DC Heartbroken Family Begs For Justice After Teen Jermaine Durbin Shot Dead In DC
Heartbroken Family Begs For Justice After Teen Jermaine Durbin Shot Dead In DC The family of 17-year-old Jermaine Durbin is mourning the loss of a son, nephew, and friend after the teen was fatally shot Friday night in Northeast DC, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Police said officers from the Fifth District responded to the 600 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE around 7:20 p.m. on Oct. 3, after receiving a report of a shooting.  When they arrived, they found Durbin unconscious and not breathing, suffering from a gunshot wound. DC Fire and EMS responded. After finding no signs consistent with life, Durbin was pronounced dead at the scene, MPD said…

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by Zak Failla
Stafford, VA
Breaking News
Spotsy Woman ‘Tweaking Out’ Fights Wawa Gas Pump, Lands Third DUI In 10 Years: Sheriff Spotsy Woman ‘Tweaking Out’ Fights Wawa Gas Pump, Lands Third DUI In 10 Years: Sheriff Spotsy Woman ‘Tweaking Out’ Fights Wawa Gas Pump, Lands Third DUI In 10 Years: Sheriff
Spotsy Woman ‘Tweaking Out’ Fights Wawa Gas Pump, Lands Third DUI In 10 Years: Sheriff Brittany Atkins fought the gas pump, and the gas pump won. The 28-year-old Spotsylvania woman is facing her third DUI offense in 10 years after a strange scene played out at Wawa, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. Deputies were called at around 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 to Wawa in the 800 block of Warrenton Road, for what officials called "an unusual report."  Investigators say that callers advised that a woman was "tweaking out" as she danced around and struggled with the gas pump.  She was easily spotted by first responders. Atkins "had several signs of b…

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by Zak Failla
Westminster, MD
Breaking News
‘My Heart Is Shattered’: Four Beloved Horses Killed In Tragic Westminster Barn Fire ‘My Heart Is Shattered’: Four Beloved Horses Killed In Tragic Westminster Barn Fire ‘My Heart Is Shattered’: Four Beloved Horses Killed In Tragic Westminster Barn Fire
‘My Heart Is Shattered’: Four Beloved Horses Killed In Tragic Westminster Barn Fire They weren't just horses — they were family. A young family is reeling after a historic Carroll County barn was reduced to rubble when a massive blaze tore through the three-story structure, killing four horses and sending a man to the hospital. "I lost everything today. I lost my dreams. I lost everything I’ve spent my life dreaming to have," Karlie Bosley said. "But most importantly we lost the four greatest horses i have ever known."  "The only four horses that did not and would never have a price tag. They were my everything. I am not okay. I am never going to be okay."  Fir…

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by Zak Failla
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