Virginia Beach Officers Involved

This page identifies the primary officers involved in the shooting of Donovon Lynch on March 26–27, 2021, and summarizes what is known from court filings, investigative materials, and available evidence.

Each profile focuses on:

  • Role in the incident
  • What the officer observed
  • What the officer did not observe or could not confirm
  • What the officer recalled—and what they did not

This page is intended to provide a clear, factual reference point for readers reviewing the case.

Officer Solomon Simmons

Virginia Beach Police Department

Role in Incident

  • Officer who discharged his weapon and fatally shot Donovon Lynch
  • Responded to the Oceanfront following multiple shooting incidents
  • Entered the area on foot searching for a suspect

What He Reported Seeing

  • Claimed Lynch was crouched near bushes manipulating a firearm
  • Claimed Lynch rose and turned toward him
  • Claimed Lynch pointed a firearm in his direction
  • Stated he recognized Lynch’s face during the encounter

What Is Not Corroborated

  • No body-worn camera footage of the encounter (camera was not activated)
  • No video evidence showing Lynch holding or pointing a weapon
  • No physical evidence confirming Lynch brandished the firearm
  • No independent witness confirming Lynch pointed a gun

What He Remembered / Did Not Recall

  • Remembered specific actions attributed to Lynch (movement, weapon, perceived threat)
  • Stated he “said something” prior to firing
  • Could not recall what he said
  • No evidence he identified himself as police

Detective Brian Kreitzman

Virginia Beach Police Department

Role in Incident

  • Approached Lynch alongside Officer Simmons from the left-rear
  • Initially had his weapon drawn
  • Took cover behind a green electrical box during the encounter

What He Reported Seeing

  • Stated Lynch exposed a firearm

What Is Unclear or Contradicted

  • Took cover and did not advance with Simmons
  • Position may have limited line of sight
  • Independent witness (Darrion Marsh) contradicts claim that Lynch exposed a weapon

What He Remembered / Did Not Recall

  • Could not recall what commands, if any, were given to Lynch
  • Could not confirm whether Simmons identified himself as police
  • Could not recall key details of verbal interaction

Officer Justin Buck

Virginia Beach Police Department

Role in Incident

  • Not directly involved in the shooting
  • Body-worn camera captured Lynch and Darrion Marsh minutes before the encounter

What His Camera Shows

  • Lynch and Marsh walking casually down Pacific Avenue
  • Passing multiple officers without incident
  • No indication of suspicious or threatening behavior
  • Lynch and Marsh pausing on a street corner for approximately one minute

What His Camera Captures

  • Audio of the three gunshots fired by Officer Simmons

What This Establishes

  • Lynch was not perceived as a threat moments before the shooting
  • No officer, including Buck, attempted to stop or question Lynch

Officer Adam Murawski

Virginia Beach Police Department

Role in Incident

  • Arrived on scene after the shooting
  • Body-worn camera captured portions of the aftermath

What Is Known

  • Present during post-shooting response
  • Contributed to scene management after shots were fired

Limitations

  • No involvement in the initial encounter
  • No direct observation of the shooting itself

Officer Connor McMahon

Virginia Beach Police Department

Role in Incident

  • Provided first aid to Donovon Lynch after the shooting
  • Body-worn camera captured post-shooting medical response

What Is Known

  • Engaged in lifesaving efforts following the shooting
  • Present during immediate aftermath

Limitations

  • Did not witness the shooting
  • No role in use-of-force decision

Command & Leadership (Post-Incident)

Sergeant Daniel Fogerty

Virginia Beach Police Department

Role in Incident

  • Supervisor who responded after the shooting occurred
  • Served in a supervisory capacity during the immediate aftermath
  • Body camera captured interaction with Officer Simmons

What Is Known

  • Simmons informed Fogerty that he had shot someone
  • Present during early supervisory response

What He Observed

  • Encountered Officer Simmons after shots were fired
  • Body camera captures Simmons stating that he had shot someone

What He Did Not Observe

  • No direct observation of the encounter
  • Did not witness the shooting
  • Did not observe Lynch’s actions prior to the use of force
  • Did not hear any commands or identification given before the shooting

What He Remembered / Did Not Recall

  • Documentation reflects post-incident interaction with Simmons
  • No firsthand knowledge of:
    • Whether Lynch exposed a weapon
    • Whether Simmons identified himself
    • Whether warnings were given

Chief Paul Neudigate

Virginia Beach Police Department — Chief of Police (at the time)

Role in Incident

  • Not present at the scene
  • Served as the public face of the department following the shooting
  • Responsible for communicating the department’s position and initial narrative

Role in the Aftermath

  • Provided public statements regarding the shooting
  • Addressed media and community concerns
  • Helped shape the official explanation of events
  • Oversaw departmental response and internal handling

What He Relied On

  • Officer accounts, primarily from Officer Simmons
  • Preliminary investigative findings
  • Internal briefings and reports

What He Did Not Personally Observe

  • The shooting itself
  • Lynch’s movements during the encounter
  • Whether a verbal warning was given
  • Whether Lynch exposed or pointed a firearm

Key Considerations

  • His statements reflect institutional interpretation, not firsthand knowledge
  • Public explanations relied on information that remains disputed or unverified
  • The timing and evolution of the narrative—including references to a firearm—were communicated through official channels under his leadership

Why He Matters to the Case

While not involved in the split-second decision to use force, Chief Neudigate plays a central role in:

  • How the shooting was framed to the public
  • What information was released—and when
  • How the department justified the officer’s actions

His role sits at the intersection of:

  • Transparency
  • Accountability
  • Public trust

Key Observations Across Officers

1. Only One Officer Claims a Direct Threat

  • Officer Simmons is the only officer who claims:
    • Lynch pointed a firearm
    • A lethal threat existed

2. No Confirmed Police Identification

  • No officer recalls hearing a clear verbal identification as police
  • No audio captures a command such as:
    • “Police”
    • “Drop the weapon”
    • “Stop”

3. No Video Evidence of the Critical Moment

  • No body-worn camera captured the shooting
  • Only:
    • Audio of gunshots
    • Distant surveillance capturing muzzle flashes

4. Contradictions and Gaps

  • Civilian witness contradicts officer claims about the firearm
  • Supporting officer (Kreitzman) had limited visibility
  • Key details remembered selectively:
    • Specific threat behavior recalled
    • Verbal commands not recalled

No supervising officer witnessed the shooting—meaning the justification for deadly force originates from a single officer’s account.

Why This Page Matters

Understanding the roles and statements of each officer is essential to evaluating:

  • The accuracy of the official narrative
  • The reliability of the use-of-force justification
  • The gaps between perception, documentation, and evidence

This page serves as a reference point for all analysis, timelines, and investigative reporting related to the Donovon Lynch case.