Two Virginia Beach Police Officers Fatally Shot After a Late-Night Traffic Stop – Details 43

On February 21, 2025, at 11:27 p.m., officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese attempted to stop a blue Hyundai Sonata for an expired license plate. The driver initially refused to pull over before stopping at the dead end of Silven Court.

When the officers approached, the driver became argumentative and repeatedly refused commands to exit the vehicle. After several requests, he eventually stepped out, but almost immediately, a struggle broke out.

During the altercation, the driver pulled a handgun from his pocket and opened fire, striking both officers. While they lay defenseless on the ground, he fired again, fatally wounding them before fleeing.

Backup officers responded within minutes and launched a search for the driver. He was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in a shed behind an apartment complex near the scene.

Authorities confirmed him to be 42-year-old John McCoy III, a convicted felon. Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate addressed the public in an emotional press conference, providing details on the tragic loss of Officers Girvin and Reese.

He revealed that Officer Reese, 30, was pronounced dead shortly after midnight at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital, surrounded by family, friends, and fellow officers. Officer Girvin, 25, succumbed to his injuries at Virginia Beach General Hospital around 4:30 a.m., also surrounded by loved ones and members of his police family.

Speaking on the department’s grief, he stated, “We’re all hurting. We’ve got families that have lost a loved one in the prime of their life, and they are completely devastated.” Neighbors described hearing gunshots and witnessing a heavy police presence.

Marcus Burton, who lives near the scene, said he initially heard several gunshots but didn’t realize the gravity of the situation until he saw police swarming the neighborhood. “I looked out my window and saw a guy walking through the alleyway. Next thing you know, the whole neighborhood’s full of cops,” he said.

Another resident, Micka Carden, expressed disbelief that such violence could occur in what she described as a quiet community. “My son was a police officer in the Army. My husband and I both served in the military. We respect law enforcement, and it’s just terrible that this happened. It’s awful,” she said.

Community members and law enforcement agencies have since offered their condolences, mourning the loss of the two officers who paid the ultimate price in service to their city.

Virginia Beach Fire Department shared in part on Facebook, “Our hearts are filled with profound sadness and sorrow this morning upon learning of the tragic loss of two of our brothers in blue. We extend our deepest condolences and offer our prayers to the grieving families […].”

Someone close to Girvin also took to Facebook and wrote in part, “I cannot think of the words to describe how I’m feeling. I’m angry, I’m sad, I’m heartbroken, I’m a whirlwind of emotion. Cameron Girvin you where not just a coworker or a partner you where one of my best friends, you where a brother to me [sic].”

This saddening incident follows the heartbreaking news of another police officer having his life cut short following a shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania.

Chaos unfolded at UPMC Memorial Hospital when a gunman stormed the ICU, taking staff members hostage before engaging in a deadly shootout with police.

The violence resulted in the death of West York Borough Police Officer Andrew Duarte, a six-year veteran of law enforcement, and left multiple individuals wounded. The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Diogenes Archangel Ortiz, was also killed in the confrontation.

Authorities reported that Ortiz entered the hospital carrying a bag containing a handgun and zip ties before heading straight to the ICU.

UPMC took to Facebook to share confirmation of reports of a gunman being present and shots being fired. He held staff hostage and prevented officers from breaching the unit by threatening to kill one of the hostages.

When he later emerged into the hallway with a hospital worker still at gunpoint, officers opened fire, killing Ortiz. Two additional law enforcement officers suffered gunshot wounds and are in stable condition. A doctor, a nurse, and a custodian were also shot, while a fourth hospital employee was injured during the chaos.

Officials believe the attack was specifically targeted at the ICU, as Ortiz had been in contact with the department in the previous week regarding a medical matter involving another individual.

Officer Duarte, who, according to reports, was 29 when he died, had served in law enforcement for six years. Before joining the West York Borough Police Department, he spent five years with the Denver Police Department, where he specialized in DUI and drug recognition enforcement.

Duarte was highly regarded in his field, earning the MADD Hero Award in 2021 for his work in impaired driving enforcement. The West York Borough Police Department honored his sacrifice, encouraging the community to lay flowers on the steps of the police department in his memory.

“Our community grieves the loss of a hero,” the department shared on Facebook. “We ask that the community come together in solidarity, respect, and prayer at this time as broken hearts mourn.”

Governor Josh Shapiro also paid tribute to Duarte, calling him “the best of us” and recognizing his life of service. “This morning in York County, we saw the best and worst of humanity,” Shapiro wrote on X. “Tragically, we lost one of those heroes today. Officer Duarte’s willingness to run toward danger helped save lives.”

The Fraternal Order of Police echoed these sentiments, stating, “Pennsylvania lost another hero today. Officer Duarte’s bravery and commitment to upholding the law are a testament to the selflessness shown daily by those who have dedicated themselves to protecting and serving.”

Patients and visitors at UPMC Memorial Hospital described the terrifying moments leading up to the shooting. Jayden Robertson and his grandmother were visiting a family member when an announcement came over the intercom about an intruder with a weapon.

Initially, they assumed it was a minor security issue, but the situation quickly escalated. Robertson recalled looking out the window and seeing police cars arriving, with officers rushing to grab shields and firearms. “That’s when we realized how serious this was,” he said.

Elsewhere in the hospital, Betsy Small was visiting her mother when she heard strange noises and saw people running.

A woman over the intercom announced a lockdown, sending a wave of panic through the floor. “You never think it’s going to be a shooting, not in a hospital,” Small said. She took cover near a window while medical staff scrambled through the hallways.

For more than an hour, Small watched as nurses moved frantically, some in tears. Her daughter texted her at 11:41 a.m., informing her that the shooter had been “taken out.”

“UPMC is grateful to all the law enforcement officers, and to our staff who courageously ensured their own safety and the safety of our patients and visitors. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone exposed to this terrible event,” the hospital shared in part on Facebook.

State Senator Dawn Keefer and State Representative Seth Grove addressed the tragedy in a joint statement, expressing their sorrow over the events at UPMC Memorial Hospital.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at UPMC this morning. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all those affected by this senseless act of violence,” they stated.

Despite the tragedy, authorities assured that no patients were harmed and the hospital is now secure. This harrowing event follows the fatal school shooting that occurred at Antioch High School on January 22, 2025.