Fatal shooting in March was not Portsmouth officer's first - The Virginian-Pilot
The officer who killed a Portsmouth man in March after a police chase was involved in another fatal shooting six years ago that claimed the lives of two men. For the first time Thursday, prosecutors publicly identified Lt. T. Thursby as the officer who shot and killed 29-year-old Walter Brown III on March 24 inside the man's home. A Pilot investigation Friday determined that Thursby's first name is Todd and that he and another officer opened fire on a car in April 2009 while trying to arrest two men in the Holley Cove neighborhood of Chesapeake. Detective Misty Holley, a Portsmouth police spokeswoman, confirmed Thursby was involved in both shootings, but she noted both were deemed justified by prosecutors. She added that Thursby - a 19-year veteran of the department who was promoted to lieutenant earlier this year - is a longtime member of the SWAT team. A spokeswoman for the Portsmouth NAACP said Friday she was unaware of Thursby's history. An attorney for Edens' family lamented that the department did not take action against Thursby following the first shooting. Commonwealth's Attorney Stephanie Morales announced Thursday she would not seek charges against Thursby, the same day she said she would seek an indictment against another Portsmouth police officer for the April shooting of William Chapman II. A. Source: hamptonroads.com
