The mother of a woman killed alongside her 12-year-old grandson has reached a settlement agreement with the federal government following a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The case stemmed from a March 2024 tragedy in which a VA police officer killed his estranged wife and their son before taking his own life.
Michelle Smith filed the lawsuit in December 2025 following the deaths of her daughter, Dominique McGeachy, and grandson, Jerel McGeachy Jr. The perpetrator, Jerel McGeachy, worked as a police officer at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Leavenworth, Kansas.
According to court documents, Dominique McGeachy had obtained a protection order against her estranged husband in March 2024 after months of repeated threats. Following the protection order, supervisors at the VA Medical Center confiscated Jerel McGeachy’s service weapon. However, he retained access to the department’s armory.
On the morning of the incident, Jerel McGeachy entered the armory, retrieved a weapon, and traveled to his estranged wife’s home. There, he fatally shot both Dominique McGeachy and their 12-year-old son before turning the weapon on himself.
The lawsuit alleged that VA officials were negligent in allowing Jerel McGeachy continued access to the armory and weapons despite knowing he posed a threat to his family. Smith’s legal team argued that this negligence directly caused the deaths of her daughter and grandson. The original lawsuit sought damages of $10 million.
Details of the settlement amount and specific terms were not disclosed during a telephonic status conference held Tuesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer B. Wieland. Attorneys representing both parties confirmed the agreement but did not respond to requests for additional information.
Court records indicate that Smith will file two motions for apportioning the settlement proceeds by July 18, with another status conference scheduled for September 8.
An Office of Special Counsel investigation conducted after the incident revealed multiple security deficiencies at the VA facility. As a result, disciplinary action was taken against the police chief, deputy chief, and a lieutenant. All three officials are no longer employed by the department.
Dominique McGeachy had served as a captain in the U.S. Army and worked as a VA nurse in Leavenworth. At the time of her death, she was pursuing a doctorate in nursing practice. Her son, Jerel McGeachy Jr., was known for his public speaking abilities and had skipped a grade in school. He had delivered an address honoring his mother on Veterans Day.
The case highlights concerns about workplace security protocols and the handling of employees who may pose risks to others, particularly when those employees have access to weapons as part of their professional duties. The settlement represents the conclusion of civil proceedings related to the incident, though the broader implications for VA security policies remain under discussion.
Smith was represented by the Palmer Law Group of Topeka, Kansas, while the federal government’s legal team included attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s offices in Kansas City, Kansas, and Wichita.
Leave a Reply