Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jul 2008
Source: Caswell Messenger (NC)
Copyright: 2008 Womack Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.caswellmessenger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4822
Author: Leigh Walker

MOTHER SPEAKS OUT ON POLICE SHOOTING

The family of Randolph Neal Seamster Jr. continues to be plagued by
questions surrounding the death of the 22-year-old Pelham resident.
Seamster was shot and killed July 2 by police at Sheetz in South Boston, Va.

"I am mad as hell," his mother, Alisa Seamster said. "He was taken
from us so violently and suddenly, they have no idea what they have
done to this entire family."

According to a news release from Virginia State Police, members of the
Halifax, South Boston and State Police Regional Narcotic/Gang
Enforcement Task Force were at the store, at the intersection of
Routes 501 and 58, about 7 p.m. July 2 for a "drug-related matter,
which resulted in attempted capital murder of one of the officers."
However, Seamster's family members say he was a victim of
circumstance, calling his death tragic and unnecessary.

"The police have not talked to us, except for the very first morning,
I talked to First Sgt. Larry Bishop," Seamster said. "The first words
out of his mouth were that this had absolutely nothing to do with
Neal, that the drug task force was already there and that Neal just
happened to drive onto the lot." Seamster said her son and his friend
had been in Danville earlier in the day to buy marijuana and were
headed to Buggs Island where he had accepted a job. Seamster said the
two stopped at Sheetz to buy rolling papers.

"They came out of the store, got in the car and that's when three
policemen in plain clothes approached them and tried to jerk them out
of the car," Seamster said. "They thought they were being carjacked,
Neal immediately put it into reverse to back up to get away from them."

Angela Meredith, Seamster's aunt said he was shot one time in the
chest and that he was not armed.

"This is a nightmare, like it isn't even real," Meredith said. "They
said it would take six to eight weeks for the investigation to be
complete, they are waiting on the final autopsy and toxicology report."

According to the news release, the task force officer involved in the
shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the
outcome of the investigation.

"The police have not met with me; they have not come to my house, or
called me to sit down and say 'OK, this what they are doing,'"
Seamster said. "They didn't close off Sheetz when it happened; they
let people continue to come on to Sheetz and see him laying there."

"He didn't deserve this; they could have done anything but what they
did; he has never sold drugs and there has never been any charges for
such."

Seamster said the family gets cards and letters daily from South
Boston and Halifax residents that are as angry as they are.

"It is tragic, senseless and uncalled for," Seamster said. "I just
don't know why it took them over four hours to get to me and I don't
know why they have not bothered to sit down with us and tell us that
they are doing stuff, I don't know if they even care."

Seamster said her son's body was taken to Richmond for an autopsy
before she was notified of his death.

"What happened to the parents identifying him; what happened to
decency and respect; where has that gone," Seamster asked. "I didn't
get to see him until Saturday when I got to go for the first time."

Services were held for Neal Seamster on July 7 at Swicegood Funeral
Home in Danville, Va. "He was buried at Shady Grove United Methodist
Church next to his nanny," Seamster said.

She fought back tears and her voice faltered as she added, "If a young
person is sick, you know it is coming, you can say your goodbyes and
make your peace, we had no chance, no chance whatsoever."

Seamster said that in six to eight weeks the pain will come again as
the family will come face to face with the tragedy a second time.

"I don't know when we'll ever get an answer," Seamster said. "All I
know is that ... when they ever do sit us down and tell us what they
found, we have to relive this all over again whether it is justified
or not justified. And we feel that it is very unjustified."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin