Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

NNPA Stories

Virginia Police Officer Who Shot Donovon Lynch Will Not Be Charged

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Over the last ten years there have been several deaths in police custody shootings that have gained national attention. Most of them have involved video footage. They include the police shootings of Eric Garner, George Floyd, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Philando Castille and Walter Scott.

By Lauren Victoria Burke
NNPA Newswire

donovan lynch
Donovan Lynch’s death re-ignited debate around the policy question of qualified immunity and how liable police officers should be for death and injury they may cause while on duty.

A grand jury has ruled that a Virginia Beach Police Officer who shot Donovan Lynch in on March 26 will not face charges.

Lynch was shot to death by Virginia Beach Officer Solomon Simmons. Lynch is a cousin of musician and Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams. Lynch’s death has been under investigation since his shooting.

Lynch’s father recently filed a $50 million lawsuit against Officer Simmons. Simmons is Black. The wrongful death suit is likely to be in court next year if it survives a motion to dismiss filed by the city of Virginia Beach.

Lynch was armed with a gun at the time of the shooting which occurred on a night of violent activity by other individuals at Virginia Beach’s oceanfront.

ADVERTISEMENT

During a lengthy news conference on November 30, Virginia Beach prosecutors said Officer Simmons was justified in protecting himself after Lynch allegedly cocked his gun and pointed it towards a parking lot.

Officer Simmons’ body camera was turned off during the moments when he shot Lynch. Media reports reveal that there are conflicting witness statements regarding how Donovan Lynch was killed.

Lynch’s funeral earlier this year was attended by Rev. Dr. William Barber and many local politicians. His death re-ignited debate around the policy question of qualified immunity and how liable police officers should be for death and injury they may cause while on duty.

Over the last ten years there have been several deaths in police custody shootings that have gained national attention. Most of them have involved video footage. They include the police shootings of Eric Garner, George Floyd, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Philando Castille and Walter Scott.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

ADVERTISEMENT

Written By

ADVERTISEMENT

Read The Current Issue

Texas Metro News

Determining Optimal Protein Intake For Muscle Growth buy steroids the 3 golden rules of muscle growth
ADVERTISEMENT

You May Also Like

Health & Fitness

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Health officials said the ACA Marketplace’s enrollment success reflects expanded access under the Biden-Harris administration. However, political opposition from Trump and...

News

By Bobby R. Henry Sr.The Westside Gazette The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing more than 200 Black-owned print and online media outlets, is...

News

NNPA NEWSWIRE — FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel acknowledged consumer frustration with data caps, noting that nearly 3,000 individuals have filed complaints over the past...

News

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Black voters have the power to shape the outcome of the 2024 election and will play a critical role in defending...

Advertisement