Beach NAACP Demands New Look At 2021 Police Shooting

By NJG
Staff Writer 
Virginia Beach

The Virginia Beach Chapter of the NAACP recently issued a call for “a thorough federal investigation into the tragic and fatal shooting of Donovon Lynch in 2021 by a Virginia Beach police officer.”

NAACP spokesman Rev. Gary McCollum said the civil rights group has been following the case since day one, but has waited until now to get involved to avoid conflicting with a lawsuit filed by the Lynch Family.

Wayne Lynch originally filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit in June 2021 against the city and Solomon D. Simmons, the police officer who shot his son. On December 13, 2022, attorneys for the family announced that a $3 million settlement had been made. A week and a half later, Wayne Lynch, the father, put the brakes on the process and announced that he would not sign off on the $3 million settlement, which he said at that time was not finalized.

McCollum said the Virginia Beach NAACP is now able to get involved because the suit has been settled.

Lynch’s fatal shooting occurred on a warm March night near the city’s crowded boardwalk, which is lined with restaurants and hotels. The evening dissolved into chaos after separate outbreaks of gunfire. At least eight people were wounded, and one woman, who was believed to be a bystander, also was killed.

In November 2021, a special grand jury found that Simmons, an African-American,  was justified in shooting Lynch.

Authorities said Lynch had a gun and racked a round into the chamber before pointing his weapon toward a parking lot filled with people and police.

According to the NAACP, questions remain about the actions of the involved officer, Solomon Simmons, and the overall conduct of the Virginia Beach Police Department. “We simply want the truth,” emphasized President of the Virginia Beach NAACP, Dr. Eric Majette.  Details of the incident reveal that Officer Solomon Simmons failed to activate his body-worn camera, a direct violation of Virginia Beach police policy. “The failure to record such a critical encounter has left the community with many unanswered questions and has raised doubts about the transparency of the police department’s actions,” the NAACP noted in a press release it recently issued.

“Furthermore, it has come to our attention that the city failed to administer a drug and alcohol test for Officer Simmons immediately following the shooting. This oversight raises concerns about the thoroughness of the investigation and whether it was conducted in accordance with the law.”

According to McCollom, the investigation into the incident that was done by the City of Virginia Beach which enlisted the help of the Virginia State Police was unsatisfactory and revealed nothing.

The Virginia Beach NAACP’s fact-finding investigation will be led by its Legal Redress Committee, whose chairman is Rick James. It is charged with determining the facts surrounding the incident leading up to, during and after the fatal encounter on March 26, 2021.

“This investigation will include the evaluation of the city’s Use of Force policy as we have serious concerns and questions on the justification of the necessity to use deadly force as there is no conclusive evidence to date, that has been presented publicly, that Donovan Lynch brandished a fire arm,” the group noted in its release.

The release continued, “Donovon Lynch’s life was tragically cut short, and his family, as well as the entire community, deserves a comprehensive, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. The Virginia Beach NAACP firmly believes that an independent federal investigation is necessary to ensure justice is served and that any potential misconduct is addressed appropriately. The Virginia Beach NAACP stands united with Donovon Lynch’s family and the entire community in their call for truth and justice.”