Virginia State Police are investigating the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Melissa R. Tompkins at the Ramada on Signal Knob Drive in Strasburg.
On Sunday, December 17, at around 11 p.m. a call came in to the Shenandoah County Emergency Communication Center. According to VSP, the caller reported a person acting erratically, damaging property, and threatening people in the hotel.
An unnamed Strasburg police officer answered the call and encountered Tompkins in the back parking lot. According to VSP, there was altercation after between her and the officer. She reportedly attacked him, got his ASP baton, and hit the officer in the head.
The officer shot the woman, but according to VSP, she didn’t die at the scene. Tompkins was taken to Winchester Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
VSP said the officer was transported to the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
Tompkins remains were sent to the medical examiner’s office in Manassas where she was positively identified and for examination and autopsy. VSP said Tompkins had no fixed address.
The State Police investigation was requested by the Strasburg Police Chief and is being handled by the Culpeper Field Office.
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