Body cam footage released of officer-involved shooting
Body cam video of an officer-involved shooting on Link Road in February of 2018 has just been released by the Special Prosecutor's office.
According to a Statement of Facts released by the prosecutor, Walker Sigler and his family were in the residence in the 2100 block of Link Road when Officers Edward Ferron noticed the Sigler home's storm door opened. The officers took no action.
Officer Ferron instructed Officer Rowland to slow down when driving by the home around 1 in the morning on February 17 to check after noticing the storm door still open.
Ferron shined the cruiser spotlight on the front door of the Sigler home and noticed the front door of the house was open.
The Statement of Facts claims the Siglers' front door was older and had issues with "popping open."
Ferron did not find any signs of forced entry into the home, and checked to see if the cars parked by the residence had been tampered with.
Dispatch confirmed with Rowland that the vehicles parked belonged to the Sigler family. After receiving that confirmation, Ferron requested additional units for backup so he could approach the home.
Officers Simmons and Anderson arrived on scene shortly after. All four officers approached the home armed. Ferron told Rowland it would be Rowland's responsibility to announce their presence.
Walker Sigler was asleep in the living room when Rowland made the officer's presence known, but awoke when he heard the officer.
Sigler walked to the front door and saw the officers, but did not realize they were officers at the time according to the statement. He slammed the front door shut, and the quick reaction and sound led Officer Ferron to believe the officers were under attack.
Ferron opened fire on the residence. Sigler's door did not close as he thought it did, and opened slightly when Ferron fired his first round. The second round fired went through the front door, after Sigler was able to get the door completely shut, and went through the wall of the living room.
Officer Simmons also fired off two rounds, hitting Walker Sigler in the right thigh with her second shot.
At this time, Mrs. Sigler woke up to find her husband downstairs injured. Officer Ferron called for medics, who arrived on scene eight minutes after the last shot was fired.
A spokesperson with the Lynchburg Police Department says the body cam video belonged to Officers Ferron and Simmons.
Both are still on administrative leave without pay as the department conducts an internal investigation.
Virginia State Police determined this entire incident happened in a matter of 12 seconds.
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