Alexandria Officers Involved in Shooting of Taft Sellers Return to Regular Duty

The Alexandria police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Taft Sellers in February have returned to work after an internal investigation of the incident determined the use of lethal force was “reasonable and in compliance with Department policy,” according to a release from the Alexandria Police Department.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Sengel cleared the seven officers involved in the incident of criminal charges in July, releasing a 30-page report detailing the circumstances that led to Sellers' death.

Sellers, a T.C. Williams graduate and former Marine, pointed a firearm at police during a Feb. 17 encounter at his grandmother’s apartment complex in the 3400 block of Duke Street. 

Sellers’ sister notified police that he had a gun after the two got into an argument. He did not threaten to use it. The 30-year-old Sellers then encountered a police officer in a stairwell at the complex. As other officers arrived, Sellers hid behind a wall.

Officers repeatedly asked Sellers to show his hands, according to the report, but he refused.

He then pointed his weapon at the officers.    

“The gun was fully loaded but Sellers did not fire it; and he was shot by officers who feared Sellers was going to shoot at them,” reads Sengel’s report. “Under these circumstances, the law clearly supports the conclusion that the officers were entitled to use deadly force in response and that they fired in self-defense. Criminal charges against the officers are not appropriate.”

The officers fired 37 shots at Sellers using handguns, a shotgun and a rifle. Sellers was hit five times in the abdomen and head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sengel’s report indicates Sellers had sent an email to friends and family the day of the shooting implying suicide. Sengel said the investigation showed nothing in regards to post traumatic stress disorder, but that Sellers had been treated for depression. Sellers was prescribed phenytoin, an antiepileptic drug, according to the report.

The APD’s investigation determined the use of lethal force to be reasonable in compliance with the department’s policy and consistent with training the officers received.

APD policy allows the use of lethal force when, “an employee reasonably believes that the action is in the defense of human life, including the employee’s own life, or in the defense of any person in imminent danger of serious physical injury.”

The seven officers had been placed on administrative duty until the completion of the internal investigation.