On Sunday, July 9, a fatal shooting occurred in Summit Cove, Summit County, resulting in the death of a man identified as recent Summit County graduate Charlie Foster. The shooting took place when deputies and local police officers responded to a call about an armed individual wandering in the neighborhood. According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the man failed to comply with verbal commands and pointed a handgun at a deputy and officer before being shot.
The victim’s family member, Monica Vasquez, identified him as her 18-year-old nephew and stated that he was carrying a BB gun, although law enforcement has not confirmed this detail. Vasquez claimed that her nephew had a mental illness and that the officers had been talking him down before he was shot.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that both a Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Dillon Police Department officer fired shots at the man, who was declared dead at the scene. The victim, Foster, had been in contact with the Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team (SMART) in the past three weeks. Although he had not been deemed a danger to himself or others, he had refused voluntary services from the SMART team.
The incident has sparked concerns within the community, with many residents receiving emergency alerts to shelter in place that morning. The Sheriff’s Office has placed both officers involved in the shooting on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons expressed condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and emphasized the commitment of the Sheriff’s Office to transparency and providing support to those affected by the tragic event. The investigation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available..
![](https://countylocalnews.com/article1/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot_20240727_161725_Chrome-1-587x1024.jpg)
![](https://countylocalnews.com/article1/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot_20240727_161804_Chrome-1-583x1024.jpg)
![](https://countylocalnews.com/article1/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot_20240727_161842_Chrome-582x1024.jpg)
![](https://countylocalnews.com/article1/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot_20240727_161453_Chrome-844x1024.jpg)