Attorney for victims’ families slams Virginia Beach mass shooting commission over canceled meeting

A state commission investigating a 2019 mass shooting in Virginia Beach has drawn ire from some victims’ family members after abruptly canceling last week’s monthly meeting.

“It was a 21 member commission, more than half resigned over the last several months and now they don’t have enough members to show up to have a meeting?” Justin Fairfax, an attorney representing a group of victims’ families, said Tuesday. “This is a complete and utter outrage.”

Fairfax said some were already on their way to the April 25 meeting in Richmond before learning it had been canceled. At least one victim’s family member received an email the day before stating the meeting was canceled, but many others did not, Fairfax said.

“It was very haphazard,” he said.

In a statement issued last week, the former lieutenant governor urged state legislators to investigate the cancellation.

“This latest act of disrespect and cruelty directed at these Virginia victims’ families must immediately be addressed and rectified,” he said.

The Virginia Beach Mass Shooting Commission’s chairperson, Ryant Washington, did not respond to a request for comment this week.

David Cariens, a commission member, confirmed Tuesday the meeting was canceled because many members were unable to attend. He had no further comment.

The commission was formed in the aftermath of a May 31, 2019, mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. A disgruntled city employee fatally shot 12 people and wounded four others before he was killed by police.

The commission was created due to concerns from some survivors that the city’s investigation was not independent enough to be effective. The commission is tasked with investigating the shooting and the city’s response.

The commission came under fire late last year amid a string of resignations, poor meeting attendance and allegations of dysfunction.

Washington and other commission members previously explained that the group’s members are all volunteers, meaning they have to balance their role on the commission with other responsibilities.

“There are many of us who are working diligently,” Washington told The Virginian-Pilot in December while defending the commission’s work. “We are trying to do what is set before us and I think we will continue to do that.”

Katie King, katie.king@virginiamedia.com