We don’t want whatever led to the officer-involved shooting death of Dustin Griffin, 42, in Augusta County on Wednesday night to get swept under the rug.
The more we’re learning about Griffin since his passing, it seems worth it to not let the life that was snuffed out get swept under the rug, either.
“Such a kind man. He was my neighbor and helped me many times. I will truly miss him!” one woman wrote on a Facebook post of a friend sharing her sadness over Griffin’s death.
That was a sentiment shared many times over on social media.
“From what I know of him, he was a really good guy hopelessly in love,” was the message from a friend.
“Dustin was a very sweet guy,” was the comment of another.
ICYMI
- Augusta County: Man killed in shootout with deputies; one deputy airlifted
- Augusta County: Medical examiner confirms ID of man shot, killed by deputy
From the obituary for Griffin posted online, we know that he was a 2001 graduate of Buffalo Gap High School and attended Virginia Tech, where he majored in forestry and wildlife.
A family member emailed me to tell me that he was enrolled in the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School while at Buffalo Gap, which tells you about his intellectual gifts.
The family member also told me about his close relationship with his grandfather, Carl Durham, “with whom he shared a deep bond,” the obituary tells us.
“Carl was more than a grandfather to him – he was a best friend, loyal confidant, and kindred spirit,” per the obituary.
From an online obituary for Carl Durham, who passed in 2002, shared with me by the family member, Dustin’s grandfather was the founder, owner and operator of Crown Jewelers in Downtown Staunton until he retired in 1983, and was on the boards of directors of two local banks and the local chamber of commerce.
“And he mentored Dustin until he died,” the family member told me.
It’s not all good news to share, to be sure.
The next thing I can find about Dustin Griffin in terms of his life timeline dates out to Dec. 22, 2011, when he was charged in Pulaski County on a marijuana offense, for which he was given a 10-year suspended sentence.
Here we can go with the critique that we can give to our politicized criminal-justice system of that time, chewing up people with a fetish for marijuana and spitting them out.
That first entry into the online court system database was followed by several more involving illegal drugs, three involving the possession of a gun after having been convicted of nonviolent felony.
There’s a trespassing charge, two assault and battery of a family member charges, two probation violations.
Griffin got a two-year prison sentence on a 2019 drug charge in Augusta County, but from there, things seemed to have calmed down.
“Yes, he had prior charges, but he served his time, was released, and he was gainfully employed,” the family member told me, reinforcing the point made by one of the Facebook commenters about his willingness to help neighbors with things around the house.
“He was helping one neighbor who is a disabled Vietnam vet with house repairs when he wasn’t working,” the family member said.
Griffin, we know from the online court system database, was due in Augusta County General District Court on Monday at 1 p.m. on a vehicle registration summons.
“Why initiate a raid at his grandmother’s house in the middle of the night five days before?” the family member said, telling me that Griffin had told family about how he’d been in contact with a deputy from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office in October in regard to an ongoing investigation, “but there were no outstanding charges against Dustin, certainly none that would have warranted a raid in the middle of the night. He was never served with papers, until that night.”
This is where we shift to telling the official story of what happened on Wednesday night, as told by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police.
Per the accounts offered up by the authorities, three deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit showed up at a residence in the 800 block of Parkersburg Turnpike, west of Staunton, around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night to serve an arrest warrant.
That address, connecting the dots, is the home of the grandmother, Nancy Durham.
Remember the part above, about his grandfather being Dustin Griffin’s best friend?
The wording of the press release from the sheriff’s office leaves a lot of room for interpretation as to what happened next:
“Augusta County Sheriff’s Office deputies were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a suspect in the 800 block of Parkersburg Turnpike. When the deputies arrived, they encountered the wanted suspect, and a physical altercation occurred. A deputy was shot in the upper arm area during the altercation.”
There’s also room for interpretation on what happened from the release from the Virginia State Police:
“Preliminary information indicates three deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit were attempting to take a subject into custody when shots were fired. One deputy was struck in the arm and was transported by medical helicopter to the University of Virginia Medical Center for treatment.”
Per both releases, the deputy was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
As for how things went down:
- We don’t know the nature of the charge(s) against Griffin, though we can guess, given that we’re told that it was the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit involved in the operation, and, we have to say, his own prior record.
- It’s not being made clear in either release who fired the shot that injured the deputy.
That last bullet point is a rather important one.
The way the two law enforcement agencies worded their public statements leaves who fired the shot that injured the deputy to interpretation.
We got into reporting on this story because the family member reached out to us to try to get answers on that, and to that end, we’ve put questions on what happened to the ACSO and the State Police, but no one is talking.
The sheriff’s office is deferring to the State Police, which has assumed primary responsibility for the investigation, at the request of Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith.
The word from a VSP spokesperson, in response to our email inquiry:
“We have released everything we can at this time. Additional information will be released as it becomes available and appropriate for public dissemination. An updated release will be sent to all media via email.”
I understand – the VSP needs to investigate before it says anything.
I get it; it’s protocol.
Just saying here, we’re going to keep pressing until there are answers – and if that involves challenging the final report of the State Police on the matter at the end of the day, so be it.
We’re prepared to file Freedom of Information Act requests for bodycam footage from the incident, for files related to the investigation that we know began in October and led to the decision to issue an arrest warrant, for communications on the decision to try to make the arrest at the grandmother’s home.
I’d assume we’d get stonewalled by officialdom if things get that far, and if that happens, we’ll take them to court.
I’m writing this particular story because I saw some rather pointed comments online from people who have decided that it’s cool to throw shade at friends and family of the guy on the other end of the officer-involved shooting, just assuming that he brought being shot to death on himself.
“He shot a cop, the f**k you mean murdered?” one man wrote on one thread, which was started by a friend who jumped the fact-finding and wrote that Griffin’s death-by-cop was “murder.”
To be clear, no, we’re far, far from that being anywhere near a fact; also to be clear, the cops aren’t saying Dustin Griffin “shot a cop.”
“He knew what he was doing shooting at a cop,” this same commenter doubled down. “I’m not trying to slander his name, but people trying to say is death was unjust are just wrong.”
I’ve been avoiding sharing the names of people commenting on this because it’s such a sensitive subject, but damn, I really want to with this jerk, whose social media is all about smoking joints and vaping, oblivious to the concept of “there but for the grace of God go I.”
Dustin Griffin, from what I can tell, not an angel – as is the case with most of us – but what happened in his final moments is a tragedy, and I hope to God we don’t find out that it’s more than that.
I’ll wrap this up with words from the obituary:
Dustin had a truly big heart and lived with quiet generosity. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it, helping others without seeking recognition or praise. His kindness was sincere, steady, and deeply felt by those who knew him. His unforgettable grin and sense of humor will remain in the hearts of all who loved him.
He found peace in the outdoors, often preferring the solitude of nature to the noise of everyday life. Hunting and fishing were more than hobbies to Dustin – they were moments of reflection, calm, and connection to the world around him. In the stillness of the woods or by the water, he was most at ease and always found comfort in his steadfast dog companions, Kaya and Gus.
Though his life was cut far too short, Dustin will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his open heart, and the quiet strength he carried. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.
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Chris Graham
