On May 31, 2019, Christopher Kelly Rapp, a 54-year-old male, tragically lost his life in a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. Rapp, a dedicated and respected engineer for the city's public works department, was one of twelve people killed that day in a senseless act of violence that shook the community.
Christopher Rapp was in Building 2 of the municipal center when a disgruntled fellow city employee, DeWayne Craddock, opened fire on his colleagues.
Rapp had been with the City of Virginia Beach for about a year, having recently moved back to the area to be closer to his family. His career as a civil and environmental engineer was marked by a commitment to public service, having held positions in various Virginia counties before returning to his hometown.
The perpetrator of this tragedy, DeWayne Craddock, was a 40-year-old engineer in the public utilities department. On that fateful afternoon, he entered the building armed with a. 45-caliber handgun, equipped with a suppressor and extended magazines, and began indiscriminately shooting. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, as Craddock had submitted his resignation earlier that day but was not facing any disciplinary action. The assault ended when police officers confronted Craddock, leading to a prolonged gun battle in which he was ultimately killed.
In the aftermath of the shooting, DeWayne Craddock was identified as the sole person responsible for the deaths of Christopher Rapp and the eleven other victims. As Craddock died at the scene, there were no arrests made in connection with this horrific event. The investigation focused on understanding the shooter's motivations and the circumstances leading up to the attack. The community was left to mourn the loss of dedicated public servants like Christopher Rapp, who was remembered by friends and colleagues as a kind-hearted and intelligent man with a passion for music, particularly playing the bagpipes.
