The Staunton Police Department (SPD) and Chief Williams addressed by the email the recent fatal officer involved shooting that occurred September 22.
The investigation of the incident remains under investigation by Virginia State Police (VSP) which is standard procedure.
Preliminary investigation revealed that law enforcement was called to the scene by a concerned citizen.
On arrival an officer contacted Montique Treymayne Gaston of Portsmouth Virginia in the parking lot of the Walmart store.
As the officer approached an altercation took place and during the struggle the officer fired fatally, striking the 39-year-old Gaston.
All responding officers rendered aid immediately and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene.
Despite all efforts to aid him Gaston was pronounced deceased at the scene.
All officers were wearing body cameras, and they were active throughout the entire ordeal.
Where many citizens believe that body worn camera footage should be released immediately, it cannot be until thorough review by VSP during the active investigation.
Staunton Police express their condolences to the family of the decedent and realize the shooting raises multiple concerns.
Those concerns deserve to be heard and taken seriously but cannot be addressed until all the facts are known and the investigation is complete.
Once the investigation is complete information will be available to the public to the fullest extent of the law as soon as all the facts are known.
Patience is requested as the investigation continues.
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