Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi announced on Friday that no criminal charges will be filed against four Norfolk police officers involved in a deadly shooting incident. The officers were fired upon by a 41-year-old truck driver, whom they sought to arrest in June 2022. Fatehi made the determination after reviewing an investigation conducted by the Virginia State Police.
The suspect, identified as Beekman, was wanted in Virginia Beach for a shooting incident on May 30, 2022, where a 7-Eleven clerk was wounded. The Norfolk Police Department was notified of Beekman’s presence in the Larchmont neighborhood by the Virginia Beach Police Department Warrant-Fugitive Unit. Beekman was considered armed and dangerous.
On June 21, the Norfolk police special operations team approached Beekman, who was spotted outside his apartment. Body camera footage played during the news conference showed Beekman opening fire on the officers as they exited their vehicle. In response, the officers returned fire. Beekman was struck 21 times and was carrying a Sig Sauer P226 Elite pistol.
Fatehi stated that the fault in this case lies with Beekman and that the officers had no choice but to respond with deadly force. Ballistics evidence confirmed that the pistol used by Beekman in the shooting incident was the same weapon used in the convenience store clerk’s shooting.
None of the officers were injured during the exchange of gunfire. The investigation has been challenging for both the families of the officers and Beekman. Fatehi emphasized that the officers made difficult decisions in a rapidly evolving situation.
