Family members say the man shot by police in Alexandria, Va., Monday afternoon was a former Marine who had served in Africa and Europe.
The incident began when around 2 p.m. when officers responded to a domestic call in the 3500 block of Duke Street and found an unspecified family confrontation in progress, police said.
During the call, police say they encountered 30-year-old Taft Sellers, who had a gun. Police struck and killed him. No officers were injured.
"There seemed to be some contention in the family there, and then ouofficers were confronted by a gentlemen and then we ended up with a shooting," said Alexandria Police Chief Earl Cook.
While it's unknown how many shots were fired, at least a dozen evidence markers were visible.
Tanny Sellers, the victim's sister, told News4's Shomari Stone that she felt "very numb" over his death. "It's like I'm dreaming. I haven't woke up yet."
She said her brother finished his military service in 2007.
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Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting. They have interviewed multiple officers involved but did not disclose their specific roles in the incident. The department placed the officers on administrative leave with pay pending the result of the investigation, which is standard procedure.
Authorities closed Duke Street for more than seven hours while they investigated. Tanny Sellers said she'll never forget her last conversation with her brother. "I told him I loved him, he said he loved me," she said, "and that was the last time I heard from my brother."
Anyone with information about the incident should call police at 703-746-6711.
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