Christopher Reese, Cameron Girvin Obituary, Death News – Two Virginia Beach police officers were fatally shot during a traffic stop late Friday night, and the suspected shooter was later found dead, authorities confirmed.
The officers, identified as Christopher Reese and Cameron Girvin, were conducting routine patrols when they attempted to stop a blue Hyundai Sonata due to an expired license plate, according to Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate. However, the driver refused to pull over, prompting the officers to follow the vehicle.
During a news conference on Saturday, Neudigate described the encounter as horrific, confirming that it was captured on video.
Upon stopping, the officers approached the vehicle and ordered the driver to step out. Instead of complying, the suspect became confrontational.
A struggle ensued between the officers and the driver, during which the suspect suddenly pulled a pistol from his pocket and opened fire on Reese and Girvin.
While the officers were down and defenseless, the suspect shot them again before calmly walking away, Neudigate explained.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, and both officers were transported to local hospitals, where they succumbed to their injuries.
As law enforcement searched for the shooter, they discovered his body in a shed behind the apartment complex where the traffic stop had taken place. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old John McCoy III, is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with the medical examiner determining that his death occurred shortly after the initial incident.
McCoy had a prior felony conviction from 2009, which legally prohibited him from possessing a firearm. However, authorities have not yet disclosed details about how he obtained the weapon.
Another individual was inside the suspect’s vehicle at the time of the shooting, but police do not expect to file any charges against that person.
Both Virginia Beach Mayor Robert Dyer and Police Chief Neudigate urged the public to be patient as investigators work to gather all the facts surrounding the case.
“No words can ease the pain and loss,” Dyer stated on Saturday, expressing condolences to the fallen officers’ families and the police department.
Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents Virginia Beach, also acknowledged the tragedy on social media, noting that the entire community is mourning the loss of the two officers.