Pharrell’s Family Files $50 Million Lawsuit Against Virginia Beach & The Police Officer Who Fatally Shot His Cousin Donovon Lynch

Pharrell’s Family Files $50 Million Lawsuit Against Virginia Beach & The Police Officer Who Fatally Shot His Cousin Donovon Lynch

As previously reported, Pharrell Williams‘ 25-year-old cousin, Donovon Lynch, was fatally shot in Virginia Beach this past March by a police officer. After the tragic incident, it was revealed that the officer who fired the fatal shots had their bodycam turned off at the time of the shooting. According to new reports, on Monday (June 21) Donovon Lynch’s father, Wayne Lynch, filed a federal lawsuit against the officer who is responsible for shooting his son and the City of Virginia Beach. In the lawsuit, Wayne Lynch is reportedly requesting a jury trial and demanding $50 million in damages from the officer in question and the city. The lawsuit also refers to the officer as Solomon D. Simmons III, however, the Virginia Beach Police Department has yet to officially release the policeman’s name.

Donovon Lynch

According to the lawsuit, Simmons used excessive force, acted with gross negligence, and failed to properly identify himself beforehand. In addition to that, the suit claims the officer didn’t offer any warnings before using his firearm or render medical attention after firing. The suit also strongly expresses that Donovon Lynch was not a threat to anyone prior to being shot and was trying to leave the area with his friend when Simmons “immediately, unlawfully, and without warning” fired two shots at Lynch, which resulted in his death.

The lawsuit also claims that Simmons reportedly knew Donovon Lynch beforehand and could not have thought he was anyone else because Lynch “was unmistakable as anyone else” due to his large 6 foot-5, 305-pound frame.

As mentioned above, the City of Virginia Beach is also listed in the lawsuit because it allegedly failed to properly train officers on how to use deadly force and other techniques that would have prevented Donovon Lynch’s death, according to the suit.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family and loved ones of Donovon Lynch during this time.