Norfolk police and security officer fatally shoot man armed with a knife
NORFOLK, Va. January 19th, 2024 — A man died from his injuries after being shot by a Norfolk police officer and a security officer in the Wards Corner area on Thursday afternoon, police said.
The shooting happened in the 100 block of East Little Creek Road, next to the intersection with Granby Street. Police responded to the area around 1:40 p.m. for a report of a suspicious person: a man who was pulling car door handles.
According to Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot during a press conference near the scene, a police officer and a security officer approached the man, who pulled out a knife and advanced toward them. Both the officer and security guard shot the man and then rendered aid, Talbot said.
The man was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to Talbot and Virginia State Police, which is the agency investigating the shooting incident. Shortly after 9 p.m., the Norfolk Police Department said the victim, identified as Gary Solomon, 31, died at the hospital.
According to the Norfolk Police Department, the officer involved is on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation. No other officers were hurt.
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi also went to the scene of the shooting, telling reporters that it’s his job in cases of officer-involved use of force to determine if that force is justified or not.
“They’re difficult [and] sometimes, these questions can turn on really small details,” Faheti told reporters. “It’s important for me to be out here personally to see the scene [and] to walk with the state police, so I can have the most complete and accurate information possible as I make these decisions.”
