Son charged with fatally stabbing GMU professor Michael Buschmann released from hospital
VIENNA, Va. (7News) — George Mason University professor Dr. Michael Buschmann was fatally stabbed by his son inside his Vienna home Wednesday, Fairfax County Police announced Thursday during a news conference.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said 26-year-old Axel Buschmann, the son, has been charged with second-degree murder.
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we've had six homicide victims in Fairfax County since the beginning of 2021 - six - who have been murdered by their adult sons inside their homes," Davis said. "If you add an adult sister killed by her adult brother that number comes to seven. Seven."
Davis said the problem continues to plague the area.
"A dispute took place and a life was lost. We’ll get to motive hopefully," Davis said. "I imagine something happened before the fatal stabbing occurred."
Axel Buschmann was released from a hospital Saturday after being treated for a significant stab wound to his torso area. He is now in custody where he remains without bond.
Police noted another member of the Buschmann family, a son, lost his life in years past, but he did not offer additional details as he was answering a question from the media.
“The other son lost his life and the details of it, we are still attempting to learn what they were," Davis said.
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Officers responded to the 9800 block of Palace Green Way in Vienna around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday following multiple calls to police from members of the Vienna community. Buschmann, his wife, and son, Axel, lived in the home, but Mrs. Buschmann was not in the residence at the time of the incident.
Inside the home they discovered Buschmann. Davis said responding officers saw two feet laying on the ground. Buschmann died of several stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“It was a fixed blade with a handle," Davis said, describing the blade as several inches long. "It was a substantial knife. Not a pocket knife."
Outside, police saw a man, Axel Buschmann, covered in blood walking down the street.
Through de-escalation techniques, including using first names during conversations, a veteran officer was able to get the younger Buschmann to drop the knife he had concealed under a sweatshirt he was carrying. He was taken to a hospital without incident, police said.
"He was taken to the hospital with multiple lacerations to his neck, and he was covered in blood," Davis said.
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"Dr. Buschmann meant so much to our community, to GMU and the international academic world," Davis said of the bioengineering professor. "We lost a great mind, a great teacher, and by all accounts a decent human being."
