Portsmouth Officer Charged in Waterside Shooting Incident

Confrontation between off-duty officer and group led to later shooting by separate suspect

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A Portsmouth police officer, Brandon Davis, was arraigned on a charge of brandishing a firearm related to a November confrontation near Norfolk's Waterside district. The incident later escalated when a separate suspect, Lorne Bailey Jr., opened fire in the crowded downtown area, critically injuring an innocent bystander. Prosecutors allege the initial confrontation involved Davis, who was off-duty at the time, and another group, though the details of that encounter remain disputed.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and community members, as well as the potential for minor confrontations to escalate into serious violence. It also raises questions about the role of off-duty officers and the appropriate use of force, especially in public spaces.

The details

According to prosecutors, the incident began inside a parking garage near Waterside, where two groups became involved in a confrontation. One group included Davis, the off-duty Portsmouth police officer. Prosecutors allege Davis drew a firearm during that encounter. The two groups then left the parking garage, and Bailey later stopped in the middle of downtown Norfolk and opened fire toward another car and the crowded waterfront area, striking a bystander with life-threatening injuries.

  • The initial confrontation occurred on November 23, 2025 in a parking garage near Waterside.
  • Davis was arraigned on the brandishing charge on February 10, 2026.
  • Bailey's next hearing is scheduled for February 18, 2026, the same day Davis is due back in court.

The players

Brandon Davis

A Portsmouth police officer who was off-duty at the time of the initial confrontation near Waterside.

Lorne Bailey Jr.

A 23-year-old man accused of opening fire in downtown Norfolk, critically injuring an innocent bystander.

Ramin Fatehi

The Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney who emphasized that the shooting occurred well after the initial confrontation had ended.

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What they’re saying

“Regardless of what the run-up was, regardless of who may have been in the right, or may have been in the wrong, in the earlier confrontation, or rather, both sides were in the wrong in the confrontation, what happened out there on the part of the defendant is a danger to the community, and he should be held, until we can try the case on the merits.”

— Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney (13newsnow.com)

“My party and I were walking through the parking garage when Brandon, inside his vehicle, started to have a verbal dispute with somebody in my group. He then gets out of his vehicle, still saying racial slurs and starts a physical altercation and immediately brandishes his firearm on me and then everybody I was with.”

— Anonymous (13newsnow.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on February 18, 2026 whether or not to allow Lorne Bailey Jr. out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex dynamics between law enforcement and community members, as well as the potential for minor confrontations to escalate into serious violence. It raises important questions about the appropriate use of force by off-duty officers and the need for greater transparency and accountability in policing.