City leaders met with the civil rights organization as questions remain about the encounter that ended with Montique Treymayne Gaston’s death.
STAUNTON, Va. — Staunton leaders and the local NAACP have met to discuss calls for greater transparency following the fatal police shooting of Montique Treymayne Gaston, as Virginia State Police continue an independent investigation into the Sept. 22 encounter.
The meeting followed public concerns about the limited information released after Gaston, 39, of Portsmouth, was shot by a Staunton police officer in the parking lot of the Walmart on Richmond Avenue. Police have said an officer responded to a citizen’s 911 call, encountered Gaston and became involved in an altercation before firing. Authorities have not publicly detailed what triggered the confrontation or the sequence of events immediately before the shooting.
The Staunton Branch of the NAACP called for a thorough and transparent investigation after Gaston was identified. The organization asked authorities to preserve evidence that could help establish what happened, including body-camera footage, dispatch records, police communications, photographs and any relevant civilian or surveillance video.
City officials later contacted the NAACP and met with its leadership to discuss those concerns and Police Chief Jim Williams’ public statements about the shooting. The city said the meeting allowed officials to hear the organization’s concerns directly and discuss the continuing investigation.
City leaders said they support transparency and the preservation of evidence while Virginia State Police conduct the independent inquiry. The city also said it intends to maintain communication with the NAACP and the broader community as additional verified information becomes available.
A key piece of evidence is the body-worn camera used by the officer who fired. Williams has said the camera recorded the entire incident and that the recording was preserved and provided to Virginia State Police. The footage has not been released publicly because it remains evidence in an active investigation.
Police said the shooting occurred about 7:15 p.m. after the officer was dispatched to the Walmart parking lot. Gaston was struck when the officer fired during the altercation, according to the department. The officer and other responding officers provided emergency aid, but Gaston was pronounced dead at the scene. The officer was not injured and was placed on administrative leave under department policy.
The NAACP has said the investigation should be allowed to proceed carefully while also arguing that the public should eventually receive enough information to understand how the fatal encounter unfolded. The organization has emphasized that its questions should be answered with evidence rather than speculation. It also has said it planned to communicate directly with Virginia State Police as the investigation continued.
Williams has acknowledged that Gaston’s death has raised concerns about race, fairness and public confidence in law enforcement, particularly among members of the Black community. The police chief has said the department does not have all of the facts and should not draw conclusions before investigators complete their review.
Virginia State Police remain responsible for determining the facts of the encounter. After that investigation is completed, authorities have said an independent prosecutor with no connection to Staunton or its police department will review the findings. No determination about the legality of the officer’s use of force has been publicly announced.
Author note: Last updated October 15, 2026.