VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach Police Department is conducting criminal investigations after an officer shot a 24-year-old man from Richmond Friday afternoon on the city's shoreline.
What happened
Police said they received a call about a man walking through traffic carrying a knife and arrived at the scene at approximately 1:15 p.m. Officers found the man on the beach and said he had an 11-inch knife.
- Officers repeatedly ordered the man to drop the weapon and attempted de-escalation.
- A less-lethal sponge round was deployed from a SAGE launcher but did not gain compliance.
- After the SAGE deployment failed, one officer discharged his firearm and struck the man.
“Officers attempted to communicate and deescalate the incident, repeatedly instructing the individual to drop his weapon; the suspect did not comply,”
The wounded man was rushed to a hospital and was reported to be fighting for his life. There were no reported injuries to the officer who fired. The department placed that officer on temporary critical incident leave, which officials called standard protocol.
Investigations and next steps
According to the department, the VBPD Detective Bureau is leading one of two criminal investigations into the shooting. All evidence collected by the department will be submitted to the Virginia Beach Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney (OCA) for review to determine whether the use of force complied with the law.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Time of call/arrival | About 1:15 p.m. |
| Subject | 24-year-old man from Richmond |
| Weapon | 11-inch knife |
| Non-lethal tool used | SAGE sponge round (ineffective) |
| Subject condition | Rushed to hospital; fighting for his life |
| Officer status | Not injured; on temporary critical incident leave |
The department asked anyone with information to contact Crime Solvers at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Officials have not released additional updates on the man’s condition or on the identity of the officer involved.
Local context
Beachfront incidents draw heightened public attention in Virginia Beach, a city that balances large seasonal crowds with an active policing presence on its oceanfront. Use-of-force reviews by local prosecutors and internal investigators are typical when an officer shoots a civilian; the department noted the OCA will review the facts and circumstances once the VBPD completes its investigations. That process is meant to provide an independent legal assessment and help the community understand whether department actions met statutory and policy standards.
For residents and visitors, the episode underscores the challenges officers face on public shorelines where open spaces and crowds can complicate encounters. The department’s statement emphasized repeated attempts at de-escalation and the sequence of responses — verbal commands, a less-lethal round, then lethal force when those measures failed to achieve compliance.
News Block will update this report as officials release more details and as the Commonwealth’s Attorney completes its review.
