VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Two Virginia Beach police officers were shot and killed by a suspect executing a traffic stop on South Rosemont Road Friday night, Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate somberly told the community in a press conference Saturday afternoon.
With Mayor Bobby Dyer and Attorney General Jason Miyares at his side, Neudigate recounted the incident that has shaken the Virginia Beach and great Hampton Roads community to its core.
Officers Christopher Reese, 30, and Cameron Girvin, 25, pulled over a Blue Hyundai Sonata with expired plates, but the suspect failed to yield. They pursued him to the dead end of Sylvan Court, at which point he exited the car and a “tussle” ensued, Neudigate said.
Watch: Full press conference with Police Chief Neudigate and Mayor Bobby Dyer
During the tussle, the suspect, John McCoy III, 42, whom Neudigate vowed to only name once, pulled a pistol from his pocket and shot Reese and Girvin.
“Those officers fell to the ground,” Neudigate said. “While on the ground, defenseless, he shot them each a separate time.”
Both officers were taken to hospitals for life saving measures, but Reese was pronounced dead just after midnight at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, and Girvin succumbed to his injuries several hours later at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.
While looking for the suspect, responding officers found McCoy in a shed nearby with what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. No VBPD officers fired their weapons during the incident.
Watch: Police convoy drives on I-264 following two VBPD officer deaths
“I’m gonna be quite honest, we’re all hurting,” Neudigate said. “We’ve got an officer that is 25 years old, another one that is 30, with such a future ahead of them… senselessly taken.”
At the start of the event, Mayor Dyer offered a moment of silence for “the heroes who have paid the ultimate price to make Virginia Beach so great.”
Watch: Officers at the Fourth Precinct set up a memorial for the fallen VBPD officers
“Today, our city is heartbroken,” Dyer added. “No words can ease the pain and loss.”
Neudigate went on to say that they were offering their unwavering support of the families of Reese and Girvin as they navigate this difficult time.
It's been more than 16 years since a Virginia Beach police officer was killed in the line of duty — a fact that Neudigate brought while answering a reporter's question.
"The majority of our workforce has not experienced loss of this magnitude," Neudigate said.
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Detective Michael Phillips, 37, was shot and killed on Aug. 7, 2008, while conducting an undercover buy-bust narcotics operation in the Green Run Shopping Center in Virginia Beach.
"Last night, evil found them, and that sacrifice is a painful reminder of the dangers our officers face,” said Neudigate.
McCoy, according to Neudigate, had a felony conviction from 2009, but due to his apparent suicide, they may never truly know the motive.
Watch: Update from the scene of fatal shooting of VBPD officers
Neudigate ended his prepared remarks with a stark comment in reference to the body and car camera footage of the incident.
“After he executed our officers, he calmly walked away.”
An outpouring of support has come from the police community throughout Virgina, the U.S. and beyond.
Neudigate said he had heard from departments in Israel and England offering words of support.
And their job now, Neudigate said, is to help the community and those touched by this loss heal.
"We will be with them side by side step by step," Neudigate said. "And we will never forget Chris and Cameron."
