Commonwealth v. Tyler Lynn Davis; 58 Years to Serve for Attempted Aggravated Murder of On-Duty Police Officer

Virginia Beach, Va. – Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the city of Virginia Beach, announced that Tyler Lynn Davis, age 26, was sentenced on charges of Attempted Aggravated Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer, Use of a Firearm, Grand Larceny, and Conspiracy to Commit Grand Larceny. Davis was found guilty of these charges on October 24, 2025, after a three-day jury trial.  Circuit Court Judge Tanya Felton, who presided over the trial, sentenced Davis to 93 years in prison with 35 years suspended, leaving 58 years to serve. In addition, Davis pled guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Violent Felon on December 15, 2025.

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that on October 20, 2023, Tyler Lynn Davis and three other individuals arrived at Kohl’s in Pembroke Mall in Virginia Beach with the intention to steal merchandise. The co-conspirators were Jaclyn Anderson, Hayley Fernandes, and Brandon Foster. Davis and the two females each grabbed their own shopping cart and loaded up hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise, to include shoes, clothes, and suitcases.  Meanwhile, Foster walked a lap around the store and exited through a different door from where the group entered. He then waited in the parking lot in a van, often getting out of the van and looking around before getting back inside.  A Loss Prevention Officer from Kohl’s observed the suspicious activity on surveillance video and called police.  Kohl’s staff covered all the exits as the group attempted to leave with the stolen merchandise. 

Davis escaped through a fire escape door and ran towards the van, as an officer with the Virginia Beach Police Department drove into the parking lot.  The officer was in a marked police vehicle with his lights activated.  As the officer exited his vehicle, Davis shot at him three times.  Although the officer was not struck, one of the bullets struck the police vehicle just inches from the officer.  Davis fled across Virginia Beach Boulevard and the officer pursued on foot.  Davis was ultimately apprehended outside a restaurant in the Town Center area.  Officers retraced Davis’s path and found the gun on a median.  In an interview with detectives, Davis admitted to stealing from Kohl’s, shooting at the police officer, and fleeing from police. 

Fernandes, Anderson, and Foster were also charged and convicted for their roles in the shoplifting incident.

Davis has prior convictions for Larceny offenses, Burglary, Receiving Stolen Property, Drug Possession and Eluding Police.

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Janeé D. Joslin and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Brandon C. Emery prosecuted this case. Please contact Macie Allen if additional information is desired.