BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – An investigation is underway after a woman was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting in Bedford County on Sunday, according to Virginia State Police.
Authorities report that the incident began at about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday when a DWR Conservation Police Officer tried to stop a female motorcyclist who was driving without a helmet and did not have a license plate.
However, when the officer turned on his vehicle’s emergency lights and sirens to get the woman to stop, rather than stopping, she continued driving to a home in the 100 block of Afton Lane in the community of Goodview.
The officer followed the woman, who was later identified as 29-year-old Chelsae L. Clevenger-Kirk, of Goodview, Virginia, and attempted to speak with her before she went inside. After she went inside her home, the officer continued trying to make contact with the woman but didn’t get a response.
State Police says when the officer went back to his patrol car, he heard gunshots coming from inside of her home. That’s when the officer called the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police for backup. Neighbors tell us that Afton lane was packed with more than 20 law enforcement vehicles that night.
According to authorities, five specially-trained negotiators tried to speak with Clevenger-Kirk and negotiate a peaceful resolution, the woman began setting fires inside of the home. As a result, the trailer home was destroyed in the fire.
OC and CS compounds were used during the standoff, which are ingredients typically used in tear gas and pepper spray.
However, state police say these chemicals do not appear to be the source of the fire.
At about 1 a.m. on Sunday, she exited her home armed with a handgun, which resulted in The Bedford County Sheriff’s deputies and DWR Conservation Officer firing their weapons, authorities say.
According to Virginia State Police, Clevenger-Kirk was shot and later died at the scene. Chris Kirk, Clevenger-Kirk’s brother, and neighbors say law enforcement shot her five times.
Her body was taken to the Office of the Medical Examiner in Roanoke for examination and autopsy.
“You going to shoot a little girl five times in her face, in her body, however. That’s I mean, I don’t know what else to say really,” Chris said.
Clevenger-Kirk’s brother told us Chelsae made Facebook live videos during the stand-off and revealed her history of mental health struggles; however, the videos were removed.
No law enforcement officers were hurt in the incident.
At least five rifles were destroyed in the blaze, state police say these weapons were not relevant to the investigation and were left at the scene.
However, a handgun Kirk allegedly used was collected as evidence.
The investigation has been turned over to Virginia State Police.
