Pharrell Williams has mourned the death of his cousin Donovon Lynch after a series of shootings in Virginia Beach.
The 47-year-old star has paid tribute to his cousin, who died aged 25 after being killed by police in the shootings over the weekend.
The loss of these lives is a tragedy beyond measure. My cousin Donovon was killed during the shootings. It is critical my family and the other victims’ families get the transparency they deserve. VA Beach is the epitome of hope and we will get through this. pic.twitter.com/npGxhbRwLk— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) March 29, 2021
On Friday night (26.03.21), there were three separate shootings incidents in the Virginia Beach Resort Area.
Authorities have said the first incident – which saw several people shot with no deaths – was likely the result of a fight.
Police added that ‘Bad Girls Club’ star Deshayla E. Harris – who died in the second shooting aged 29 – was likely an innocent bystander, and no arrests have been made yet in connection with her death.
Meanwhile, on Monday (29.03.21) Virginia Beach police issued another statement claiming Pharrell’s cousin Lynch – who was shot by a police officer in the third shooting – was “brandishing a handgun at the time”.
They said: “Homicide detectives have now conducted interviews with the officer involved in the shooting death of Mr. Donovon Lynch, an officer who witnessed the incident, as well as independent witnesses.
“Both officers report that Mr. Lynch was brandishing a handgun at the time of the shooting. It was recovered at the scene.
“An independent witness affirmed that Mr. Lynch had been in possession of a handgun on the evening of March 26, 2021.The specific actions which results in the shooting are part of the ongoing criminal investigation.”
Lynch, a Virginia Beach resident, was an offensive lineman for the University of Virginia’s College at Wise during the 2017 and 2018 seasons and a 2019 graduate of the school according to an ABC News report.
The police chief had said Saturday that the officer who killed Lynch was wearing a body camera. But the chief said that “for unknown reasons,” it was not activated.
“We would like to provide the community answers. At this point we do not have them,” the police chief said.
