Tragedy struck the Virginia Beach Police Department late Friday night when two officers were fatally shot during a routine traffic stop. Officers Cameron Girvin, 25, and Christopher Reese, 30, lost their lives in the incident, leaving the community and their colleagues in mourning.

According to Police Chief Paul Neudigate, the officers initiated the stop around 11:27 p.m. near the intersection of Lynnhaven Parkway and Wendfield Drive due to an expired license plate. The driver, identified as John McCoy III, a convicted felon, reportedly became confrontational and refused to exit the vehicle. A struggle ensued, during which McCoy drew a pistol and shot both officers. While they were down, he shot each of them a second time, according to Chief Neudigate.

Less than an hour later, McCoy was found deceased in a nearby shed with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A passenger in McCoy's vehicle will not face charges. Authorities believe McCoy's felon status and possession of a firearm may have motivated the shooting.

The incident, captured on both body-worn and in-car cameras, has been described by Chief Neudigate as "horrific." Both Girvin and Reese joined the Virginia Beach Police Department in 2020. Reese had previously served as a deputy sheriff with the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office. Chief Neudigate praised their dedication and stellar reputations within the department.

In the wake of the tragedy, the department has implemented a policy of doubling up officers in patrol cars for added safety and support. Mayor Bobby Dyer expressed the city's heartbreak and called for the community to unite in support of the fallen officers' families and loved ones.

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans also shared her condolences on social media, mourning the loss of the two officers.