A Virginia man accused of shooting at a sheriff’s deputies died on Friday after crashing during a car chase, per the Associated Press.
The 21 year-old man Jeremy Yates crashed in an embankment in Rappahannock County, following a chase that began when the Culpeper Police Department notified other authorities of Yates and warned them that he may be armed with a gun, per a Virginia State Police release via the AP. Investigators recovered two handguns from Yates’ vehicle, police said.
Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies approached Yates’ car around 9 p.m., before he reportedly fired at sheriff’s deputies that were stopped in a roadway and at other cars during the chase. Deputies returned fire and eventually, Yates’ 2018 Chevrolet Colorado went off the road and overturned, police said.
The shooting is being investigated by State Police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manassas is conducting an autopsy on Yates’ body. Nobody else was injured in the chase or shooting, and no other drivers reported damage to their cars, according to authorities.
Also in Virginia news, a grand jury found “no probable cause” last month to charge Officer Solomon D. Simmons with the shooting death of Pharrell Williams’ cousin Donovon Lynch—who was shot and killed by Virginia Beach police in March. Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle reportedly said the officer was justified in his actions after he alleged Lynch had a weapon on him. Lynch’s father, Wayne Lynch, had filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit filed in June.
“There were numerous people in that parking lot when Officer Simmons saw Mr. Lynch starting to come up with the firearm,” Stolle said. “So it is not only just whether the weapon was pointed at Officer Simmons. It was also —- are the people in the parking lot at risk?”
