Richard F. Thomas

Date: 2/1/2021            Location: Caroline County, VA         FACTORS (1,2,3,4,5,8,10,12,19)     

Name: Richard F. Thomas                            

Criminal History/Involved: Yes, Thomas was a convicted felon./Yes, Thomas was driving drunk and passed out in his vehicle blocking traffic.      

Mental Illness: Yes, Thomas was clearly seeking suicide by cop.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Yes, Thomas took pain medications for his medial ailments, and also drank alcohol to deal with the pain./Yes, his wife reports he was drinking and driving the evening of the incident.

Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/58

Officer(s) involved: Caroline County Deputies                                                                   

What prompted the initial contact with police? At approximately 5 p.m. on February 1, 2021, Caroline County Deputies responded to a 911 call of a male driver passed out in his vehicle in the middle of the roadway.

Actions taken by subject towards police: When deputies arrived at his vehicle, Thomas was no longer unconscious.  Thomas was however uncooperative and suicidal as he told the Deputies he was armed with “a .45 caliber gun and was going to use it.”

Reactions by the police: Despite Thomas threatening to shoot the deputies and civilian bystanders, the deputies warned Thomas approximately 45 times to peacefully surrender before fatally shooting him.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: With the investigation concluded, the deputy was found to have acted justifiably in his use of deadly force.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Not drive while under the influence of alcohol and pass out in his vehicle in the road; Not lie to deputies and tell them he was armed with a handgun and going to use it on them; Peacefully comply with the deputies and surrender.

Miscellaneous: “A review of an audio–video recording of the incident showed that deputies warned Thomas about 45 times to give himself up before the deputy, who has not been named, fired.”

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, the deputies had reasonable cause to believe Thomas was a deadly threat since “his words and actions…convince[d] the deputies and witnesses that he had a gun within his reach and that he was ready to use it.”