When a siren cuts through the salty air of the Oceanfront, people usually don’t think twice. It’s Virginia Beach. It’s busy. But the chaos that erupted on March 26, 2021, changed that rhythm forever. We aren’t just talking about a single incident; it was a night of cascading violence that left the community reeling and desperate for answers. Specifically, everyone wanted to know about the Virginia Beach police shooting suspect involved in the most high-profile segment of that night: the death of Donovon Lynch.
It was messy.
Truly.
There were three separate shooting incidents within blocks of each other. Ten people were hit. Two died. One was a bystander, Deshayla Harris, caught in the crossfire of a separate dispute. The other was Lynch. For months, the narrative surrounding the Virginia Beach police shooting suspect—or rather, the officer who pulled the trigger—was a tangled web of "he said, she said," body camera failures, and intense legal battles. If you’re looking for a simple story, you won’t find it here.
The Night Everything Went Wrong at the Oceanfront
To understand who the Virginia Beach police shooting suspect is in any of these cases, you have to look at the timeline. It started around 11:24 p.m. on Atlantic Avenue. A fight broke out. Then, shots. Several people were wounded, but that wasn't the police shooting everyone remembers. That came later.
Donovon Lynch was 25. He was a college athlete. He was a business owner. He was also the cousin of superstar Pharrell Williams. When he was shot by Officer Solomon Simmons, the city didn't just have a crime scene; it had a PR nightmare and a civil rights flashpoint on its hands.
Simmons, the officer who became the focus of the "suspect" narrative from the perspective of the Lynch family, claimed Lynch was brandishing a firearm. The family contested this vigorously. They argued Lynch was a legal gun owner and wasn't a threat. The problem? Simmons’ body camera was off.
"The officer stated that he was focused on the threat," the Virginia Beach Police Department later explained. But for a public already wary of police narratives, "my camera was off" sounded like a convenient excuse. It’s one of those things that makes you wonder how, in 2021, we were still dealing with "tech glitches" during life-or-death moments.
Why No Body Cam Footage?
Honestly, it’s frustrating. The department had a policy. The cameras were supposed to be on. But Simmons claimed that in the heat of a rapidly evolving, "active shooter" environment, he didn't activate the device. This lack of evidence is exactly why the case dragged on and why the "Virginia Beach police shooting suspect" label became so polarized.
Depending on who you asked, the "suspect" was either a dangerous gunman or a police officer who acted too quickly.
The Grand Jury and the Legal Fallout
In late 2021, a special grand jury looked at the evidence. They looked at the gun found at the scene. They listened to Simmons’ testimony. They weighed the chaos of that night.
They decided not to indict him.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney, Colin Stolle, noted that the evidence supported the claim that Lynch had a gun and that Simmons acted in self-defense. "There’s no doubt that Mr. Lynch had a gun," Stolle said during a lengthy press conference. He argued that the officer’s perception of a threat was legally "reasonable."
But the story didn't end with a "not guilty" or a "no indictment." The Lynch family filed a $50 million lawsuit. They wanted accountability that the criminal justice system wasn't providing. They eventually settled with the City of Virginia Beach for $3 million.
It’s a lot of money. But is it justice? That’s the question that still hangs over Atlantic Avenue.
Other Suspects from that Bloody Friday
While the Lynch case dominated the headlines, we can't forget the other Virginia Beach police shooting suspect involved in the earlier chaos. Several young men were arrested in connection with the initial "wild west" style shootout on 19th Street.
- Ahmon Adams: Facing various charges related to the initial gunfire.
- Nyicoholyas Bryant: Another name tied to the early-evening violence.
- Devon Dorsey: Charged with third-degree murder and firearm counts in the separate but simultaneous chaos.
These guys weren't involved in the Lynch shooting, but they created the environment that led to the heavy police presence. It’s a domino effect. One group starts a beef, the cops swarm, the tension spikes, and suddenly, a 25-year-old is dead in the dunes.
What the Public Gets Wrong About the Case
Most people think there was one shooter and one victim. That's just wrong. There were multiple scenes. The Virginia Beach police shooting suspect everyone searches for is usually Solomon Simmons (the officer), but the criminal suspects were the ones who turned a Friday night into a war zone.
Also, there’s this idea that the body cam was "broken." It wasn't broken. It was just never turned on. That's a huge distinction. It implies human error—or choice—rather than a mechanical failure.
And let’s talk about the gun. There was a gun. Lynch had a permit. The tragedy isn't necessarily that a "criminal" was shot; it's that a legal gun owner and a police officer encountered each other in a high-stress environment and both seemingly thought the other was the "suspect."
The Impact on Virginia Beach Today
Since that night, the VBPD has overhauled its body camera policies. They had to. The $3 million settlement wasn't just a payout; it was a signal that the status quo was dead.
The city also launched the "Resort Area Commission" to look at safety. You've probably noticed more lights, more visible patrols, and a different vibe if you've visited recently. They're trying to move past being the city where a high-profile police shooting happened, but the shadow of Donovon Lynch is long.
Pharrell even moved his "Something in the Water" festival away for a while, citing the city's "toxic energy" after the shooting. That hurt. It hurt the economy, sure, but it hurt the city’s soul. When your most famous son tells you you're doing it wrong, you listen.
Key Evidence Often Overlooked
- Witness Testimony: Several witnesses claimed Lynch never pointed the gun.
- The Gun’s Position: Forensic reports were used to argue about whether the gun was in a holster or in Lynch's hand.
- The Lighting: It was dark. Like, really dark on the boardwalk transition. This played a massive role in Simmons’ "perception of threat."
Navigating the Legal Records
If you want to dig deeper into the Virginia Beach police shooting suspect files, you have to look at the Virginia State Police reports. They were the ones brought in to provide an "independent" investigation.
You should also look at the federal filings from the Lynch family's civil suit. That’s where the real dirt came out. The depositions of the officers involved revealed a lot about the lack of communication that night. It wasn't just a shooting; it was a systemic failure of command and control.
Where Are They Now?
Officer Solomon Simmons remained on the force for a period but the public scrutiny was intense. The criminal suspects from the other shootings have shuffled through the court system, some taking plea deals, others facing the long tail of Virginia’s sentencing guidelines.
The city has tried to heal. There are memorials. There are new laws. But for the families involved, the "suspect" is just a word in a headline. For them, it’s a permanent empty chair at the dinner table.
Practical Steps for Following This Case
If you are tracking the legalities of police shootings or the specific aftermath in Virginia Beach, here is what you need to do to stay informed without falling for misinformation:
Check the Commonwealth's Attorney Public Reports
Don't rely on social media snippets. Read the 20-page summaries released by Colin Stolle’s office. They contain the specific forensic layouts that show exactly where the casings were found.
Monitor the Virginia Beach City Council Minutes
This is where the policy changes happen. If you want to see if the police are actually being held accountable, watch the budget sessions. Look for line items regarding body camera audits and "Resort Area" security funding.
Follow Local Independent Journalism
Outlets like WHRO or the Virginian-Pilot have reporters who have sat in every single court hearing. They have the nuance that national news misses. They know the names of the judges and the history of the officers.
Understand "Qualified Immunity"
If you’re wondering why the officer wasn't charged but the city paid $3 million, you need to understand this legal doctrine. It protects government officials from liability unless they violated "clearly established" law. The settlement was a way to bypass the years of litigation this doctrine usually causes.
Ultimately, the story of the Virginia Beach police shooting suspect is a cautionary tale about what happens when technology fails, tension peaks, and a community's trust is already on a knife's edge. It reminds us that "the truth" is often buried under layers of legal jargon and redacted police reports.
To keep track of the final dispositions of the related criminal cases, you can access the Virginia Judiciary’s Online Case Imaging System. Search for the names mentioned earlier—Adams, Bryant, and Dorsey—within the Virginia Beach Circuit Court records. This will give you the most accurate, up-to-date status on sentencing and parole eligibility without the filter of news commentary.
The investigation into the broader culture of the VBPD continues through various civilian oversight boards, which were strengthened directly because of the outcry following the March 2021 events. Staying engaged with these board meetings is the only way to ensure the "reforms" promised in the wake of the $3 million settlement actually take root.