Carroll Foy calls for DOJ investigation into Donovon Lynch’s death

VirginiaScope.com

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Carroll Foy penned a letter to the United States attorney general joining in on the calls for an investigation by the Department of Justice into the death of Donovan Lynch.

Lynch was killed by a Virginia Beach police officer in March during a night of chaos at the oceanfront. The officer was wearing a body camera but it was not activated at the time of the shooting and VBPD has not provided any evidence that Lynch was brandishing a firearm when he was killed.

“As an attorney, concerned citizen, and mother of sons myself, I am asking you to ensure accountability and transparency on this tragedy — and more importantly, for the federal government to continue to play an active role in addressing fatal police-involved shootings,” Carroll Foy wrote in the letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. “As Congressman [Bobby] Scott outlined in his request, questions remain regarding the use of the police’s body-worn camera, disputes about Mr. Lynch’s registered firearm, and alleged failures by the police to interview critical witnesses.”

The Virginia State Police are conducting an investigation of the incident.

Carroll Foy also asked Garland to look into the incident from December of last year when Second Lieutenant Caron Nazario was threatened and pepper-sprayed by police officers. “A federal investigation would ensure effective oversight and structural changes in combating these egregious practices,” she said in the letter.

One of the Windsor police officers involved in the incident was fired four months after it happened, just a few days after the video went viral. The Virginia NAACP is still calling for the resignation of the Windsor police chief and is planning a unity march at Virginia State University on Thursday.

The letter from Carroll Foy comes after the Department of Justice announced it would open investigations into the Minneapolis and Louisville Police Departments following the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. “Bad actors within our police departments must be held accountable, and it’s going to take concerted efforts by our local, state, and federal governments to ensure community trust and safety,” Carroll Foy wrote.