Virginia Beach, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Condolences are pouring in from the law enforcement community following the death of two Virginia Beach Police officers after a routine traffic stop.
Officers Cameron Girvin, 25, and Christopher Reese, 30, were working the late-night traffic patrol shift Friday night when they saw a blue Hyundai Sonata with an expired plate and attempted to pull it over. The driver, later identified as 42-year-old John McCoy III, failed to stop until reaching a dead end.
When McCoy eventually complied, an altercation between him and the officers ensued. McCoy pulled a pistol from his pocket and shot both officers. While they were on the ground, McCoy shot them each a second time.
Officers Girvin and Reese were both pronounced dead at nearby hospitals.
"We asked them to go out in these communities and keep us safe from evil, and evil found them,” Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said at a Saturday press conference. “To the families of our fallen, we stand with you, we grieve with you, and we vow we will never forget the sacrifices of Cameron and Chris."
Less than an hour after the shooting, McCoy was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the head in a nearby shed. Officials said the wound appeared to be self-inflicted.
Authorities are still looking into a motive. Police said McCoy had a gun and one prior felony conviction.
"We do know from his criminal history, he has one felony conviction from 2009, so it's not recent, but it does make him a felon," Neudigate said. "A felon with a firearm would be a new felony charge."
Girvin and Reese began working for the department in 2020. Neudigate described them as “determined peace officers and public servants” with “stellar reputations in our department and their work ethic.”
