Video Details Fatal Police Shooting Inside Arlington 7-Eleven

ARLINGTON, VA — Newly released body-camera footage shows Arlington County police using irritants and Tasers before two officers fatally shot a knife-wielding man inside a Columbia Pike 7-Eleven in May.

Police Chief Andy Penn presented the footage Friday while outlining the roughly three-hour standoff that ended in the death of 33-year-old Shawn Valn.

Police warned that the video contains graphic images and language.

The video was released after the Arlington County Board directed officials to make the shooting footage public and residents pressed county leaders for more information.

Related: Arlington To Release Video Of Deadly Police Shooting At 7-Eleven

Officers were called to the store at 3602 Columbia Pike around 6:19 p.m. on May 8 after a woman reported that Valn had threatened her.

Police said Valn took out a knife outside the store, ignored commands and went inside. Officers established a perimeter and helped customers and employees leave before Valn barricaded himself in a storage room.

Crisis negotiators spent nearly two hours trying to persuade Valn to surrender through various methods, including loudspeakers, telephone calls, and in-person communication. Valn sometimes responded, but Penn said his statements were inconsistent and often difficult to understand.

Officers later deployed irritants into the storage room and fired Tasers, but Valn’s heavy clothing prevented the Tasers from working.

Officers breached the storage-room door twice around 9 p.m. Police said the footage shows Valn advancing toward them with a raised knife before two officers opened fire.

Valn was taken to a hospital, where he died. A knife was recovered at the scene, police said. The two officers who fired remain assigned to limited, non-field duties while the shooting is reviewed.

The County Board initially expected the footage by Oct. 16 after directing the county manager to release video showing the key events and timeline surrounding the shooting. Officials previously said a third-party specialist was helping prepare the footage, Patch previously reported.

Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti is seeking a special grand jury investigation of the shooting. A special grand jury can subpoena witnesses and evidence before determining whether probable cause exists to support criminal charges. The process is expected to take several months.

Related: Prosecutor Seeks Special Grand Jury In Fatal Arlington Police Shooting

Separately, Arlington police are developing a policy governing future releases of body-camera footage from critical incidents. The department’s Office of Professional Responsibility and Arlington’s independent policing auditor will also examine whether officers violated any policies or procedures after the criminal review is complete.