Independent Citizen Review Board Fails to Reach Consensus on Police Killing of Donovon Lynch

Board split 5-1 on internal affairs investigation, unable to send recommendations to city manager

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Virginia Beach Independent Citizen Review Board was unable to reach a consensus on the police killing of Donovon Lynch, with five members voting to concur with the findings of the internal affairs investigation and one member voting that the investigation was incomplete. The board, which is supposed to have 11 members but currently has only 6 due to vacancies, could not make any recommendations to the city manager as a result.

Why it matters

The Independent Citizen Review Board is tasked with ensuring police internal affairs investigations are thorough and factually supported. Its inability to reach a consensus on the Lynch case raises questions about the transparency and accountability of the police department's handling of the incident.

The details

During the nearly 4-hour meeting, board member Joe Jackson argued that the internal affairs investigation failed to address the key issue of whether police gave Donovon Lynch a warning before using deadly force, as required by law and department policy. However, Jackson's argument was not enough to persuade a majority of the board, with the 5-1 vote leaving the review at an impasse. Board members noted that if the officer's body camera had been activated, the review would not have been necessary, but the internal affairs report stated the officer forgot to turn it on.

  • The Independent Citizen Review Board meeting took place on February 19, 2026.
  • The Department of Justice initiated an investigation into Donovon Lynch's killing on February 10, 2026, led by Rep. Bobby Scott.

The players

Donovon Lynch

The victim of the police shooting whose case was being reviewed by the Independent Citizen Review Board.

Wayne Lynch

The father of Donovon Lynch, who presented his case to the review board for an hour during the nearly 4-hour meeting.

Joe Jackson

A member of the Independent Citizen Review Board who voted that the internal affairs investigation was incomplete, arguing that it failed to address whether police gave Donovon Lynch a warning before using deadly force.

Rep. Bobby Scott

The U.S. Representative who led the Department of Justice's investigation into Donovon Lynch's killing.

Virginia Beach Police Department

The police department whose internal affairs investigation was being reviewed by the Independent Citizen Review Board.

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What they’re saying

“The most concrete part of Mr. Lynch's complaint was that his son did not get a warning from police, 'Police drop your weapon,' and that was not addressed within the internal affairs investigation”

— Joe Jackson, Member, Independent Citizen Review Board (13newsnow.com)

“There are a number of commands that a peace officer can give. For him just to say 'gun, gun, gun' and start firing away is outrageous. You're allowed to have a gun in the United States of America.”

— Wayne Lynch (13newsnow.com)

“I was a little disappointed, but at the same time. I realize that... I can see this is an issue that is not going away. I mean, it's not like we swept it under the rug”

— Joe Jackson, Member, Independent Citizen Review Board (13newsnow.com)

What’s next

The Department of Justice's investigation into Donovon Lynch's killing, initiated on February 10, 2026, is expected to continue.

The takeaway

The inability of the Independent Citizen Review Board to reach a consensus on the police killing of Donovon Lynch highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring transparency and accountability in law enforcement, particularly in cases involving the use of deadly force. The Department of Justice's investigation may provide further clarity and recommendations for addressing these issues in Virginia Beach.