NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — If 54-year-old Gary Solomon had one more moment with his first-born son, here’s what he would say: “I want to tell him we love him. You feel like you can never tell your kids that enough. That I care about them. That’s what I’m here for.”
With his wife by your side, 54-year-old Gary Solomon is still in shock knowing his firstborn son, Gary S. Solomon Jr., 31, of Norfolk, is dead. He learned the details of his son’s death by watching what he believes was a 10 On Your Side broadcast.
“My understanding is from the news this morning, he was trying to get into car doors, no damage to the cars, just checking to see what cars were unlocked,” the elder Solomon said. “Police and a security guard, I believe, approached him according to the moves he ran. Then he was chased across the street and that’s where they say he pulled out a knife and he was shot. He fell down. He got up. They said, I guess when he got up, he charged again and then he was shot again.”
The 31-year-old Solomon, a father of two, spent one year in the military. Later, according to the father, the younger Solomon was hired as a welder at a local shipyard. He also worked as a dishwasher for his stepmother, who owed a restaurant.
Things started to fall apart says the father, when the younger Solomon and his roommates were evicted from a home in the Wards Corner area some four years ago.
Regina Mobley: In looking at his criminal history, it has the words mental health written all over it.
Gary Solomon: He’s been in and out of Virginia Beach Psych (Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center). He had issues. I believe they were caused by the drugs. But he was a pleasant person. He was nonviolent and he was a happy person, a hard worker, and very intelligent with a big heart. He was a giver. He would give you the shirt off his back, even though he’s struggling himself.
Solomon wants to know why the security officer chased his son, and why the police officer failed to use a less than lethal device, such as a taser.
Friday morning, the family said they spoke with Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi, who told them his office knew of their son from various criminal cases. In several cases Solomon was the suspect; in one case he was the victim. Fatehi confirmed the conversation and the information he shared with the family.
The shooting death is under investigation by Virginia State Police.
