Man Shot, Killed by Police Had No Gun

Fairfax County police say a 52-year-old man who was shot and killed by officers while he was driving did not have a gun with him.

David Alan Masters was suspected of stealing flowers from a business on Route 1 shortly before he was killed Friday. Police say they tried to pull him over but he wouldn't stop.

Police said Wednesday that no gun was found in Masters' car.

Officials say the investigation is continuing and that an officer involved in the shooting will be on restricted or administrative duties when he returns to work next week. Two other officers involved have returned to normal duties.

All three officers have been interviewed by investigators.

Masters was a cabinetmaker and woodworker from Fredericksburg.

The family of David Alan Masters released the following statement on Tuesday:

The parents and family of David Alan Masters were saddened to learn of David's tragic death on Friday, November 13, 2009 in Fairfax County, Virginia. David was a veteran of the United States Army, and had been self employed as a cabinet maker until 2007, when he suffered an injury which prevented him from working. David suffered a heart attack and subsequent bypass surgery earlier this year. In addition to his recent physical challenges, David was plagued most of his adult life with episodes of mania and depression arising out of his diagnosed bi-polar disorder.

David is survived by his father, a retired United States Army Colonel, of Longview, Florida, his mother and sister of Manassas, Virginia, a brother in Providence, Rhode Island, a sister in Atlanta, Georgia, a former wife and step-daughter of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and numerous nephews and nieces in Northern Virginia.

The family is not currently in a position to comment on the actions of the police officers involved in David's death. We cannot form any judgment based upon ignorance of the facts. However, at this point, our family has not been provided with any information from which we can conclude that David engaged in any conduct which would justify the use of deadly force against him. The family will patiently await the results of the homicide and Internal Affairs investigations being conducted by the Fairfax County Police, and the Medical Examiner's Office before forming any conclusions concerning the circumstances of David's senseless death.