On the night of March 26, 2021, Officer Solomon Simmons encountered Donovon Lynch during an active and chaotic scene at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Key aspects of that encounter have been examined in official records and testimony, including the status of Simmons’ body camera and his account of the moments leading up to the shooting.

However, one question does not appear to be clearly addressed:

Were emergency lights activated on Simmons’ cruiser as he approached or re-entered the area?

Under Virginia Beach Police Department policy, emergency responses—particularly those involving active gunfire—typically require the activation of both lights and siren. These signals serve a critical function: identifying officers to the public, increasing visibility in chaotic conditions, and signaling urgency.

While records discuss body camera activation and officer statements, they do not appear to clearly document whether Simmons’ vehicle was operating with emergency lights at the time he positioned himself near where Lynch and Darrion Marsh were standing.

This gap matters.

If emergency lights were not activated, it raises questions about how visible Simmons was as a law enforcement officer at the moment of the encounter. It also raises broader questions about how civilians—including Lynch—would have perceived an approaching individual in a high-stress, low-visibility environment.

At present, the available record does not clearly resolve this issue.