On August 7, 2016, Chesapeake, Virginia lost Detective Michael Ray Toothman, 53, when he was fatally shot in his home. The attack also killed his 17-year-old son, Matthew, and critically injured his wife, Susie, who survived. Toothman had served about 30 years with the Chesapeake Police Department in roles including patrolman, detective, S.W.A.T. Team member and Honor Guard.

Police arrested the couple’s older son, 20-year-old Zachary Toothman, and charged him with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder. Reporting during the case said Zachary had been a Virginia Tech student in the Naval ROTC program and had failed out of the program, a fact he had not told his parents; the shooting occurred after his mother suggested preparing for his upcoming semester. After being found competent to stand trial, Zachary pleaded guilty in June 2017 and was sentenced in November 2017 to two life terms plus 23 years.