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Virginia Beach Police Officer Didn't Have Body Cam On During Fatal Oceanfront Shooting

Deshayla Harris was fatally shot the night of March 26, 2021. Police believe she was a bystander and struck by a stray bullet during several fights around 19th and 20th streets at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. (Image: Mechelle Hankerson)
Deshayla Harris was fatally shot the night of March 26, 2021. Police believe she was a bystander and struck by a stray bullet during several fights around 19th and 20th streets at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. (Image: Mechelle Hankerson)

Last updated March 28, 3:44 p.m.

Virginia Beach Police Officer Didn't Have Body Cam On During Fatal Oceanfront Shooting

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Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate said the officer that shot and killed a man during several violent incidences Friday night did not have his body camera on.

The unnamed Special Operations officer is on administrative leave while an internal investigation into the shooting is completed, following departmental policy.

"We'd like to be more forthcoming at this time, but unfortunately, we do not have body cam footage of this incident," Neudigate said in a press conference. "The officer was wearing a body cam but for unknown reasons at this point and time, it was not activated."

Police say they encountered 25-year-old Donovan Lynch after responding to another shooting incident at the Oceanfront. Police say Lynch was armed, but his family has said on social media he wasn't.

Neudigate said police found a firearm near the site of the shooting.

The officer shot and killed Lynch.

Lynch's death followed police's response to a large fight on 20th Street, where at least eight people were injured.

Near that shooting, police also responded to gunfire around 19th Street. There, police found Deshayla Harris, who was shot as a bystander. She died at the scene.

"We truly believe at this point and time she truly is an innocent victim who was struck by stray gunfire," Neudigate said.

The department said in a press release that during these incidents, an officer was struck by a vehicle. The officer went to the hospital and has since been released.

Chesapeake resident Ahmon Jahree Adams, 22, Virginia Beach residents Nyquez Tyyon Baker, 18, and 20-year-old Devon Maurice Dorsey, Jr. were all arrested and charged in connection with the first shooting of the night.

Police are still determining if the first shooting and the event that killed Harris are related, according to Neudigate.

The area has several night clubs and late-night restaurants. It's a popular weekend spot for young residents and out-of-towners and is often the center of events like College Beach Weekend.

In recent years, the city has tried to curb violence at the event as well as other popular weekends.  

Mayor Bobby Dyer told WTKR it's a "youth problem."

"We are working on having more activities for people to do when they come down here, but once again, this is just an unfortunate situation," he said.

Virginia Beach Police have assigned additional patrols to the Oceanfront for the remainder of the weekend.

This is an ongoing story and will be updated.

Mechelle is News Director at WHRO. She helped launch the newsroom as a reporter in 2020. She's worked in newspapers and nonprofit news in her career. Mechelle lives in Virginia Beach, where she grew up.

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