A Strasburg police officer was cleared and has returned to full duty after an officer-involved shooting in Strasburg on the night of Dec. 17, 2023.

The Virginia State Police (VSP) conducted a criminal investigation to review the shooting, and the SPD completed its own internal review, according to a briefing video from the Strasburg Police Department (SPD). The Commonwealth’s Attorney Elizabeth Cooper appointed Bryan Porter to serve as a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation. Porter concluded Officer George Rathore “acted in justifiable self defense” and would not face any criminal charges, the SPD announced.

Rathore had responded to a 911 call about a woman, Melissa R. Tompkins, allegedly acting erratically and damaging property at a Ramada by Wyndham hotel in Strasburg on Dec. 17, 2023. Body camera footage, which was reviewed in the investigation, showed Tompkins run away from Rathore when he approached her. After Rathore deployed his taser twice, Tompkins took the officer’s ASP and baton and hit him on the head. Rathore then pulled his firearm and hit Tompkins, who was taken to Winchester Medical Center and later died from her injuries, according to the VSP.

No other law enforcement officers or citizens were hurt, the VSP said.

In the SPD’s briefing, Chief of Poice Wayne Sager said the VSP provided Tompkins’ family with updates on the investigation and the opportunity to review the body cam footage from the incident.