Virginia Beach police say officer fatally shot man after he pointed a gun at officer
A 28-year-old man died after being shot by a Virginia Beach police officer Thursday during a traffic stop of a suspected stolen vehicle.
Police identified the man as Deshawn Whitaker, of Norfolk, on Friday afternoon and said he was shot after pointing a firearm at the officer. Whitaker was transported to a hospital after the shooting, but died at the hospital shortly after midnight.
In the hours following the shooting, Virginia Beach Deputy Chief Sean Adams said shooting occurred after a uniformed officer conducted a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle around 3:30 p.m. Thursday at a shopping center parking lot in the 600 block of Newtown Road.
In a statement issued Friday, Virginia Beach police said the driver of the car, whom they identified as Whitaker, fled the vehicle.
A passenger, identified as 20-year-old Jacqueline Ortiz, also got out of the car and the officer tried to take her into custody. Police said that Ortiz “repeatedly” reached for a handgun she had concealed with her.
While the officer and Ortiz were physically struggling, police said Whitaker returned, “produced a firearm, and pointed it at the officer.” The officer, who has not been publicly identified, then shot Whitaker, police said.
On Thursday night, two witnesses at the scene described hearing between two and four gunshots.
The officer was treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, and the department said the involved officer is on administrative leave.
Ortiz was also transported to a hospital and treated for minor injuries. She is charged with possession of stolen property, concealed weapon, possession of firearm after a domestic violence conviction, and brandishing a firearm.
According to the statement from police, medical aid was provided to Whitaker “within a minute of the shooting.” But one witness, who was getting her hair done inside a salon at the shopping center, told The Virginian-Pilot it took notably longer for aid to be rendered. After the sound of gunfire drew her from her salon chair, Marcy Spencer said she didn’t see anyone provide medical aid to a man lying on the ground “for 20 minutes.”
The police department’s Homicide Unit is conducting the law enforcement criminal investigation into the shooting. The Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth Attorney is also conducting a parallel, independent criminal investigation.
A police spokesperson said Friday the agencies are still reviewing evidence and expect to hold a briefing on the investigation next week.
Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com and Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
