Grand Jury Rules Shooting of Pharrell Williams’ Cousin by Virginia Beach Police Officer was Justified

A grand jury cleared a Virginia Beach police officer of any wrongdoing in the shooting of an armed Black man in March.

The death of Donovon Lynch, 25, received heightened attention since he is the cousin of Grammy Award-winning producer and rapper Pharrell Williams. Prosecutors said during a Tuesday press conference that Officer Solomon Simmons was justified in shooting Lynch.

They said that Lynch had “racked” a round into his handgun’s chamber and pointed the weapon into a parking lot filled with police and people. He also reportedly ran at Simmons. 

“There were numerous people in that parking lot when Officer Simmons saw Mr. Lynch starting to come up with the firearm,” said Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle at the news conference. ”So it is not only just whether the weapon was pointed at Officer Simmons. It was also —- are the people in the parking lot at risk?”

The night Lynch was killed was a particularly chaotic night at the city’s oceanfront. There were multiple separate incidents of gunfire, resulting in one dead and eight others injured.

Lynch’s father has filed a $50 million wrongful death suit alleging Simmons “immediately, unlawfully and without warning,” shot his son.

Williams, who advocated for his cousin following his death, allegedly sent city officials a letter last month informing his Something in the Water Festival will not be back. He cited the handling of the investigation into Lynch’s death as the reason.