VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A suspect shot by a Virginia Beach police officer on Thursday afternoon on Newtown Road has died, his family confirmed with WAVY.
The family of 28-year-old Deshawn Whitaker told 10 On Your Side their loved one was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital after the shooting around 3:30 p.m. Thursday in a shopping center on Newtown Road near Baker Road.
While police released limited information in the 24 hours after the shooting, only referring to it as an “officer-involved shooting,” police said in an update Friday afternoon that Whitaker was shot after he pointed a gun at an officer. Witnesses originally told 10 On Your Side at the time they heard four gunshots.
In a press release, Police Chief Paul Neudigate said the officer stopped Whitaker and 20-year-old Jacqueline Ortiz, of Norfolk, after the officer received an automated reader hit for a stolen vehicle.
The officer tried to detain Whitaker, but he escaped and fled on foot, Neudigate says. Ortiz exited the car and walked away. When the officer went to take her into custody, Neudigate says she resisted and repeatedly reached for a concealed handgun.
Whitaker eventually returned, Neudigate says, and pointed a gun at the officer. The officer then fired his gun and fatally shot Whitaker.
Ortiz was taken into custody and her handgun was recovered, Neudigate said. She was taken to the hospital for minor injuries and released. She’s been charged with possession of stolen property, concealed weapon, possession of firearm after a domestic violence conviction and brandishing a firearm. She’s being held without bond at the Virginia Beach jail.
The officer was treated for minor injuries at the scene and is on administrative leaving pending the results of the investigation.
Neudigate says his department’s homicide unit is conducting the law enforcement investigation into the shooting and the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office is conducting a parallel independent criminal investigation. The investigations include reviews of bodycam and surveillance footage.
Whitaker was living in Virginia Beach and graduated from Churchland High School in Portsmouth in 2012, his family says. He is the father of a seven-year-old boy, Deshawn Whitaker Jr., and he has a host of loved ones across the region. His family is asking for privacy, but they did issue a statement to 10 On Your Side.
His sister Angela Whitaker wrote: “He was a 28-year old and a father of a 7-year-old boy named after him. Very caring, loving, and, loved to laugh. He just was caught up with the wrong people. He leaves behind his mom and 4 other siblings with much more family who loves him. We are just asking for privacy from the public at this time.”
This is a breaking update. Check back for more information.