CLIFTON FORGE, Va. – The mother of a man that was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Clifton Forge is sharing her story.
Leonidas Tamanini was identified by Virginia State Police as the victim in the deadly officer-involved shooting that happened in Clifton Forge on June 30. The incident took place inside of an apartment on Oakhill Avenue, the home of Leonidas’ mother, Sandra Tamanini.
Sandra reached out to 10 News in hopes of sharing her account of what happened. She said she saw the entire encounter between her son and police, beginning to end.
She said that she saw a Clifton Forge Police Officer shoot her son twice, and that her son was having a mental health crisis. Sandra said she relayed the information to the 911 operator.
Sandra told 10 News that when officers entered her apartment, they did not try to de-escalate the situation.
Chad Wickline, chief of Clifton Forge Police, did confirm to us officers do go through crisis intervention training.
State Police are continuing to investigate the incident and said that Leonidas threatened officers on the scene and charged at them, which is when an officer shot his department-issued handgun and struck Leonidas.
Sandra said that account is not true, and that her son never charged at officers and was not threatening.
“I was here. I was right here. I watched it all happen. I have to watch it every morning and every night all day long, over and over again,” said Sandra.
Chief Wickline said the officer who fired the shot at Tamanini is currently on paid leave. He also said his department does have body cameras, but 10 News is not able to get a copy of any video footage since the incident is still under investigation.