John Bennett Geer, a 46-year-old male, was shot and killed on August 29, 2013, in his own home in Springfield, Virginia, by a Fairfax County police officer. The events leading to his death began with a domestic dispute call made by his partner, with whom he had two daughters. When police arrived, they found Geer's partner's belongings on the front lawn.
Geer, who was inside his townhouse, showed officers a holstered firearm before placing it on the floor.
A tense standoff lasting approximately 42 minutes ensued, during which Geer stood at his doorway, unarmed, with his hands raised. He was communicating with a police negotiator and had reportedly expressed that he did not want anyone, including himself, to be shot. Despite the presence of multiple officers, one officer, Adam Torres, fired a single, fatal shot into Geer's chest from about 17 feet away. After being shot, Geer retreated into his house and collapsed. Medical aid was not rendered for over an hour.
The shooting officer, Adam Torres, later claimed he saw Geer lower his hands toward his waist, causing him to fear Geer was reaching for another weapon. However, this account was contradicted by at least four other officers at the scene, as well as Geer's father and a friend who were present. These witnesses maintained that Geer's hands were up when he was shot.
In the aftermath of the shooting, a lengthy investigation took place. For a significant period, the police department withheld the name of the officer who fired the shot. Ultimately, Officer Adam Torres was charged with second-degree murder in August 2015. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to one year in jail. Having already served a substantial portion of that time while awaiting trial, he was released shortly after his sentencing. The family of John Geer filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Fairfax County, which was settled for $2.95 million.
