The Fairfax County Police officer who shot and killed a man in August 2013 was identified as Adam Torres.
Fairfax County Police went to 46-year-old John Geer's Springfield home for a report of a domestic disturbance. The mother of Geer's two children told police there were weapons in the home.
Police said they spoke with Geer for more than 30 minutes while he stood in the doorway of the home displaying a firearm that he threatened to use.
When Geer began lowering his hands during the attempted negotiations, Torres fired a single shot, striking Geer, who went inside and shut the door, police said. Geer's family argues police took another 40 minutes to help him, during which time they say Geer bled to death.
Police said Geer did not answer their calls and offers of aid, and a SWAT team with a tactical paramedic and rescue vehicle were used to get to Geer, who was dead when they found him. Police also found a loaded, holstered firearm to Geer's left and seven other firearms in the home.
Geer's father, Don, watched the incident unfold from outside the home and has sought an explanation from police for more than a year. News4's Shomari Stone spoke with Don late Monday night.
"I still want answers," Don Geer said. "[Monday's news] answers one of many, many questions we have in our minds. We've been doing everything we can think of to get information from the county."
The Geer family filed a $12 million lawsuit against Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler and the three police officers involved.
Last month, a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge ordered the department to release details into what exactly led to Geer's death -- including the name of the police officer who shot Geer -- within 30 days.
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Torres, an eight-year veteran of the force, remains on administrative leave as the criminal and administrative investigations continue.
County attorneys told a judge they didn't want to release the identities of the officers involved, fearing they'll anger the Justice Department, which is investigating the shooting. However, feds said they're not restricting Fairfax County Police from discussing the shooting.
In a letter to U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Morrogh said he was forced to refer the case to federal prosecutors because county attorneys refused to release internal affairs records of the officer who shot Geer.
The case attracted the attention of Grassley and others because no decision has been made on whether to charge the officer.
The Geer family attorney told News4 John Geer's hands were up in surrender prior to the shooting, which makes the killing injustified. At this point, they're looking for more evidence, including internal documents and witness accounts.
"Hopefully within the next few weeks some of this stuff will be released," Don Geer said.
