Two Virginia law enforcement officials had been fatally shot during a traffic stop on Friday night, in line with an announcement from their police division.
Virginia Seaside officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reece had been “shot within the line of obligation” throughout a late-night site visitors cease, Chief Paul Neudigate instructed reporters Saturday afternoon.
Girvin and Reece stopped a automotive for expired plates late Friday. The driving force and suspected killer, John McCoy III, started arguing with them. McCoy then obtained out of the automotive and fatally shot every of the officers twice with a pistol, Neudigate mentioned.
Emergency crews responded shortly afterward, administering life-saving measures earlier than taking the officers to close by hospitals. Each officers died in a single day surrounded by household and mates.

Police in a single day launched a seek for the suspect, who Neudigate mentioned “calmly walked away” from the scene. Officers quickly discovered McCoy inside a shed behind a close-by house complicated. He died from a “self-inflicted” gunshot wound, in line with Neudigate.
“Now, in the end, the willpower and reason behind loss of life can be as much as the health worker, however I can say that our preliminary investigation at this cut-off date…this can be a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Neudigate mentioned. “At no time did any of our officers fireplace pictures.”
When the police division first introduced the capturing early Saturday, they assured group members there was no “lively risk.”
“We’re unable to share a lot info presently as that is nonetheless very a lot an lively investigation,” the division mentioned.
“We ask in your persistence and understanding as we work to place the items of this tragic occasion collectively, make notifications, and grieve the lack of two of our personal,” the division added.

Consultant Jen Kiggans, whose district contains Virginia Seaside, mentioned her workplace’s “ideas and prayers” are with the officers’ households and their group.
“Our hearts are heavy immediately as we mourn the lack of two heroic Virginia Seaside law enforcement officials who had been tragically killed within the line of obligation final night time,” Kiggans wrote on X.
State Senator Invoice DeSteph, who represents areas of Virginia Seaside, made an identical assertion.
“I’m so terribly saddened to obtain this information this morning,” he wrote on social media. “Please hold this officer, their household, mates and colleagues in your ideas and prayers as they start to navigate such a profound loss.”
The Norfolk Sheriff’s Workplace additionally shared their condolences.
“Heartbreaking information out of Virginia Seaside the place native media studies one officer was killed and one other severely injured final night time,” the workplace wrote on X. “We ship our prayers to the officers’ households, our brothers and sisters at @VBPD and everybody affected by this tragic scenario.”
In the meantime, group members have shared their reactions on social media.
“Horrible horrible information,” one person wrote on Fb. “Prayers exit to the households of the officers.”
“So mindless and tragic I hope you discover whoever is accountable,” one other mentioned. “Prayers for everybody that’s been affected by such a tragedy.”
If you’re primarily based within the USA, and also you or somebody you recognize wants psychological well being help proper now, name or textual content 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to entry on-line chat from the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline. This can be a free, confidential disaster hotline that’s obtainable to everybody 24 hours a day, seven days per week. If you’re abroad, you’ll be able to go to www.befrienders.org to discover a helpline close to you. Within the UK, individuals having psychological well being crises can contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org
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