Simply horrible
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Two Virginia Beach Police officers are dead after being shot during a traffic stop Friday night.
At approximately 11:30, two officers observed a blue Hyundai Sonata with an expired plate. They conducted a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as 42-year-old John McCoy, III, did not pull over until reaching a dead end.
Initially refusing to exit the vehicle, McCoy eventually complied and got into an altercation with the officers. He then pulled a pistol from his pocket and shot both officers. They fell to the ground, and he shot them each a second time.
Officers Cameron Girvin, 25, and Christopher Reese, 30, were pronounced dead at nearby hospitals, where they were surrounded by family and friends.
Virginia Beach Police released the official portraits of Girvin and Reese as soon as the families said they were okay with it.
The suspect, John McCoy III, was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the head in a nearby shed. The gunshot wound appeared to be self-inflicted, according to authorities.
VBPD confirmed to 10 On Your Side there was a second person in the car. Police will not be releasing their information and that person is cooperating with investigations.
VBPD confirmed that McCoy had previous criminal history. VBPD says he was convicted of a felony in 2009.
Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate and Mayor Bobby Dyer held a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Saturday to update the public on the incident and the tragic losses.
Girvin had been with the police department since 2020, and Reese since 2022.
Reese was previously with the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office from 2019-2022.
“He was a crime fighter. He was dedicated to this community,” said Sheriff Rocky Holcomb.
Police Chief Neudigate stated VBPD is a “young workforce.” And that many may not remember the incident in 2008, and VBPD is working to support all the officers during this time.
“This is this is very earth shattering for them, and we’re very concerned about how they’re going to process and move forward,” said Police Chief Neudigate.
During the press conference, the Police Chief stated that all officers will be doubled up in cars, so no police officers will be out in the field alone.
“What this does is give our officers the ability to have someone in that car with them, to help process, help try to make sense of what occurred, and to make them feel that they have a semblance of safety,” said Police Chief Neudigate.
This is the first shooting death of a Virginia Beach Police officer since 2008 according to data from the Virginia Beach Police Foundation.
It is the first time since 1979 that Virginia Beach lost two officers in one incident.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Two Virginia Beach Police officers are dead after being shot during a traffic stop Friday night.
At approximately 11:30, two officers observed a blue Hyundai Sonata with an expired plate. They conducted a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as 42-year-old John McCoy, III, did not pull over until reaching a dead end.
Initially refusing to exit the vehicle, McCoy eventually complied and got into an altercation with the officers. He then pulled a pistol from his pocket and shot both officers. They fell to the ground, and he shot them each a second time.
Officers Cameron Girvin, 25, and Christopher Reese, 30, were pronounced dead at nearby hospitals, where they were surrounded by family and friends.
Virginia Beach Police released the official portraits of Girvin and Reese as soon as the families said they were okay with it.
The suspect, John McCoy III, was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the head in a nearby shed. The gunshot wound appeared to be self-inflicted, according to authorities.
VBPD confirmed to 10 On Your Side there was a second person in the car. Police will not be releasing their information and that person is cooperating with investigations.
VBPD confirmed that McCoy had previous criminal history. VBPD says he was convicted of a felony in 2009.
Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate and Mayor Bobby Dyer held a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Saturday to update the public on the incident and the tragic losses.
Girvin had been with the police department since 2020, and Reese since 2022.
Reese was previously with the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office from 2019-2022.
“He was a crime fighter. He was dedicated to this community,” said Sheriff Rocky Holcomb.
Police Chief Neudigate stated VBPD is a “young workforce.” And that many may not remember the incident in 2008, and VBPD is working to support all the officers during this time.
“This is this is very earth shattering for them, and we’re very concerned about how they’re going to process and move forward,” said Police Chief Neudigate.
During the press conference, the Police Chief stated that all officers will be doubled up in cars, so no police officers will be out in the field alone.
“What this does is give our officers the ability to have someone in that car with them, to help process, help try to make sense of what occurred, and to make them feel that they have a semblance of safety,” said Police Chief Neudigate.
This is the first shooting death of a Virginia Beach Police officer since 2008 according to data from the Virginia Beach Police Foundation.
It is the first time since 1979 that Virginia Beach lost two officers in one incident.
so young too