The Sierra Leonean community in Northern Virginia is reeling after the shocking killing of 26-year-old Isha Koroma, who police say was stabbed to death by a man who drove across state lines to commit the crime.
Authorities in Fairfax County, Virginia, have charged Musa Kargbo, 42, of Maryland, with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal attack that took place around 10 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, in the 3900 block of Terrace Drive in Annandale.
Police say they received reports of an unconscious person lying in the roadway with trauma to the upper body. When officers arrived, they found Koroma gravely wounded and unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe Kargbo drove from Maryland to Annandale and fatally stabbed Koroma before fleeing the area. Detectives say the crime was not random, suggesting the two knew each other prior to the incident.
Kargbo was later arrested in Lanham, Maryland, by Prince George’s County police on Saturday morning. He is expected to be extradited to Fairfax County to face charges.
Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) officials say the investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish a motive and timeline leading up to the fatal encounter.
A Community Shaken
The death of Isha Koroma has sent waves of grief and anger through the Sierra Leonean diaspora in the Washington, D.C., metro area, where she was known as a bright young woman with a promising future. Social media posts from community members describe her as “soft-spoken,” “ambitious,” and “deeply loved.”
Her killing has also reignited conversations about violence against women, particularly among immigrant communities navigating new lives far from home.
“This isn’t just another crime statistic — this is a daughter of Sierra Leone,” said one community advocate in Alexandria. “We left home to find safety and opportunity, and now we’re burying our young people to senseless violence.”
Though police have not confirmed the nature of Koroma and Kargbo’s relationship, advocates note that many women who are killed by acquaintances or partners show earlier signs of coercion or fear that go unnoticed until it’s too late.
The Broader Picture
According to the CDC, nearly half of all female homicide victims in the U.S. are killed by a current or former intimate partner. Advocates warn that isolation, cultural stigma, and fear of law enforcement often silence immigrant women who experience threats or abuse.
Fairfax County, one of Virginia’s most diverse regions, has seen a rise in domestic-related homicides in recent years — a trend local leaders are trying to combat with community outreach and prevention programs.
Police Appeal for Information
FCPD is urging anyone with details about the case to contact its Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800 (option 2). Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477) or via the “P3 Tips” app.
Anonymous tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.
As detectives piece together what led to the tragedy, friends and loved ones of Isha Koroma are left mourning a young life cut short — and hoping her story sparks the change needed to protect others like her.
“Isha’s death must mean something,” one mourner wrote online. “If we don’t learn from it, it’ll happen again.”
