An autopsy report has ruled Donovon Lynch’s death a homicide, the New York Post writes. Lynch, who is Pharrell Williams’ cousin, was shot and killed by a police officer in Virginia Beach earlier this year.
According to The Post, which reported on the findings on Tuesday (Aug. 17), a state-led investigation has now been launched into the 25-year-old’s shooting death. A grand jury is reportedly scheduled to convene about the matter next month.
While the autopsy ruled that Lynch’s death constitutes a homicide, no criminal charges have been filed against police officer Solomon D. Simmons III, who fired the fatal shots.
As reported by REVOLT, Lynch’s family recently filed an amendment to their complaint against Simmons in their continued fight for justice. According to court documents, Lynch suffered two gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
However, Lynch’s family alleges that he was actually alive for 14 minutes after being shot, but officer Simmons failed to render him any aid. The cop is also accused of not activating his body-worn camera, shooting Lynch without warning and moving his body after shooting him, “contributing to his death.” The accusations are part of a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by Wayne Lynch, the slain man’s father, in June.
So far, Virginia Beach Police have not responded to the new autopsy report. The department previously claimed that Lynch “brandish[ed] a handgun at the time of the shooting,” but a witness disputed this. In an interview with The Washington Post, Darrion Marsh, Lynch’s friend, said he did not see him pull out a gun. Instead, Marsh claims Simmons opened fire without warning while he and Lynch were walking toward their car. The pair were attempting to leave the area after a shooting occurred earlier in the night, which Marsh said he and Lynch were not involved in.