New video offers another look the death of a man killed by a police officer and a security guard

Posted: Jan 26, 2024 / 08:49 PM EST

Updated: Jan 26, 2024 / 08:53 PM EST

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — From a happy life with his family in Virginia Beach to three years in the Army National Guard, Gary Solomon Jr. found peace in the streets of Ward’s Corner. The iconic shopping center is the place the 31-year-old called home, and it is the place where he died.

On the afternoon of Jan. 18, someone at the nearby Harris Teeter grocery store reported a man who had been seen checking the doors of parked cars. A police officer and a security guard responded to the scene. Solomon, reportedly armed with a knife, advanced toward them and the men opened fire.

A person with a cell phone recorded the last moments of Solomon’s life. In the video, it appears Solomon had been shot when he charged toward the officer and the guard. You can then hear the sounds of at least two gunshots.

Tuesday, Solomon’s parents, Donyale Solomon and Gary Solomon Sr., steeled themselves to view their son’s remains at the medical examiner’s office in Norfolk. They counted at least five gunshot wounds.

Regina Mobley: Without going into a lot of detail, tell me about the injuries that you saw.

Donyale Solomon: The injury that I believe took my son’s life was one to the throat.

They’ve met with a Virginia State Police investigator and they’ve studied the video that recorded the last moments of their son’s life.

“That video took me to a place where all I could feel is the lack of training,” said the victim’s mother. “I felt like my child was shot down like a dog. And maybe I’m wrong for saying that, but that’s how I feel.”

The 31-year-old victim’s father has nagging questions about the role the security officer played in his son’s death.

“Why was he discharging his firearm when the police arrived on the scene? From our understanding, we believe that when the police arrive on the scene, the security guard should step back and the police take over,” Gary Solomon Sr. said.

As the parents prepare to bid their son farewell next Thursday, they pray that other families with loved ones with a history of mental illness don’t face the same fate.

“My son is not coming back but I don’t want to see any other parent or grandparent, ever go through something like this,” Donyale Solomon said. “What I want to see is change within our system. I feel like there needs to be a change; there needs to be concern and care.”