Official: South Boston police shooting justified

By Denice Thibodeau
Media General News Service
Published: August 15, 2008

3:15 update:

Halifax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White says the fatal shooting death of Randolph Neal Seamster Jr. by the Halifax, South Boston and Virginia State Police Regional Narcotic/Gang Enforcement Task was justified.

After a six-week investigation, Halifax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim Slayton White said she is ready to talk about last month’s police shooting death of Randolph Neal Seamster Jr. in South Boston.

White will release her findings at 2 p.m. today at Halifax County Circuit Court.

Seamster, 22, of Pelham, N.C., was shot and killed July 2 by a member of the Halifax, South Boston and Virginia State Police Regional Narcotic/Gang Enforcement Task Force in the parking lot of Sheetz.

Angela Meredith, Seamster’s aunt, has been the family spokesperson since the incident, defending her nephew and questioning how the investigation is being handled.

She said the family was allowed to see about one minute of surveillance tape taken at Sheetz the night of Seamster’s death, but maintains the small portion they saw simply led to more unanswered questions.

Meredith said Thursday that she would be at today’s news conference, but feels certain she knows what the outcome will be.

“You know they’re going to call it ‘justifiable,’” Meredith said. “We want to see the entire videotape of the time Neal was there.”

In a previous interview, Meredith said Seamster and a female friend had stopped at Sheetz on their way to Buggs Island near Clarksville, where he was starting a new job.

She said the family was told Seamster purchased rolling papers and that officers saw he had marijuana.

Meredith said Seamster’s friend told the family that three plain-clothed officers approached the vehicle he was driving, scaring him. She said none of the officers identified themselves as they approached.

Meredith said she was told Seamster thought he was being carjacked, so he threw the car in reverse and “clipped” two of the officers. She said the third officer shot Seamster through the windshield.

Until today, authorities have not released details of the incident.

• Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.