Officer-Involved Shooting: Rials-Torres Was 'Violently Swinging Metal Pole'

Arlington County Police released a timeline Tuesday of a May 19 officer-involved shooting at 4219 N. 2nd Road, resulting in the death of Alfredo Rials-Torres, 54.

An officer also suffered significant injuries, police said. Additionally, another officer sustained minor injuries, as did the mother of Rials-Torres, according to police.

The timeline shows an officer shot Rials-Torres after he began to “violently swinging a metal pole.” The officer shot Rials-Torres three times in the upper body “out of fear for his safety and the safety of others.”

The following timeline provides an account of the incident according to officer and witness interviews. The investigation remains ongoing at this time and will be presented to the Commonwealth Attorney in the future.

Timeline

10:51:44 – Initial 9-1-1 received by the Arlington County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) for a possible domestic disturbance. The reporting party informs the dispatcher they hear a female screaming from inside an apartment.

10:54:12 – Two officers are dispatched to scene by ECC for trouble unknown – possible domestic dispute.

10:54:31 – Call changed from trouble unknown to a domestic dispute, older couple in this apartment arguing loudly -possibly drinking

10:55:36 – First officer arrives on scene.

10:56:28 – Second officer arrives on scene.

10:56:39 – Third officer arrives on scene.

• The first two officers make contact with both parties believed to be involved in the domestic dispute at the front door of the apartment.
• Male party becomes confrontational with officers and attempts to slam the door closed.
• One officer places his foot in the door to prevent the door from closing and to avoid losing sight of and contact with the parties involved.
• Male party raises a metal pole in an aggressive manner, prompting an officer at the threshold to deploy his taser. The taser deployment was unsuccessful and the officer is struck in the face with the end of a metal pole by the male party.
• The officer sustains a significant facial injury – a serious laceration.
• A second taser deployment occurred by the same officer. That was also unsuccessful as one of the prongs struck one of the other officers in the arm, temporarily incapacitating him.
• The tased officer retreats to the exterior of the apartment building because he is unable to assist with the situation.
• Physical struggle ensues inside residence with the male party violently swinging the metal pole, prompting the officer to discharge his firearm out of fear for his safety and the safety of others.
• Three shots were fired, each striking the male party in the upper body.
• The third officer enters apartment and secures the scene until arrival of EMS.

10:59:54 – The third officer provides radio transmission w/ situational report, to include injuries to two officers & the parties involved in the domestic disturbance.

11:00:22 – EMS dispatched to scene

11:02:39 – EMS arrives on scene

11:10:22 – EMS transports male party to Virginia Hospital Center (VHC) where he is pronounced deceased by VHC medical staff.

11:18:21 – Injured officers transported to Virginia Hospital Center