VALLEJO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, issued the following statement in response to a recent officer-involved shooting death by Vallejo police and the state Department of Justice’s announcement that it would review the Vallejo department’s policies and procedures on the use of lethal force:
“I appreciate the Attorney General coming in to review and help reform the Vallejo Police Department,” Sen. Dodd said. “From use of force, to elimination of bias and improving training, it’s critical that we have an outside review.”
Sen. Dodd added: “That’s a positive step, but there’s much more we need to do. This week, there was yet another fatal police shooting in Vallejo – another tragic loss of life. My thoughts are with Sean Monterrosa’s loved ones. They, and the Vallejo community, deserve a clear understanding of the events that led to this shooting, which is why I am calling for an independent investigation. Justice must be served. We have seen too many families grieving senseless killings of African Americans and people of color by law enforcement. This must stop.”
The statement and action by the Attorney General follow a number of high-profile Vallejo police shootings. The latest was early Tuesday, when an officer shot and killed a San Francisco man, Sean Monterossa, 22. The shooting came in the wake of widespread protests of the police killing of George Floyd.
VALLEJO – These are preliminary the facts as we know them at this time, please be advised that the criminal and administrative investigations into this matter are ongoing. On the night of June 2, 2020, officers throughout our City were responding to a variety of riot-related calls for service. Our officers were initially dispatched to the Walgreens on the 1000 Block of Redwood Street at approximately 10:17PM on June 1 st without incident, as looters fled the scene.
At approximately 12:15am on June 2 nd , our officers received a return call, indicating that looters had returned to the Walgreens, and were attempting to break into the pharmacy located on the east side of the building. Officers were dispatched again, and at approximately 12:36am, a responding unit reported seeing 10-12 potential looters in the parking lot, turning his attention toward a male dressed in black, who appeared to be armed, in front of the business. The other responding officers, driving an unmarked police vehicle in full uniform, drove into the parking lot from the opposite side of initial responding unit.
As this Police Vehicle drove into the parking lot of Walgreens, at least one officer observed potential looters entering two carloads of vehicles suspected of looting the business. At this time, both suspect vehicles began to drive out of the parking lot. The first vehicle, a silver truck, drove out of the parking lot first, driving around the first responding unit. The black colored sedan rammed into the initial responding unit, which caused the airbag to be deployed, and the vehicle to be disabled. The officer was injured as result of the collision, which appeared to be intentional. Both vehicles fled the scene, leading to a separate pursuit, in which the suspects in the silver truck were apprehended in Contra Costa County. The black sedan was not stopped.
Simultaneous to these events, officers in the second responding unit observed a single male dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt standing on the east side of the building. The officers saw this individual begin running toward the black sedan when he stopped and abruptly turned toward the officers, crouching down in a half-kneeling position as if in preparation to shoot, and moving his hands toward his waist area near what appeared to be the butt of a handgun. Investigations later revealed that the weapon was a long, 15-inch hammer, tucked into the pocket of his sweatshirt.
Due to this perceived threat, one officer fired his weapon five times from within the police vehicle, through the windshield, striking the suspect once, fatally wounding the suspect. The officers administered first aid, and the suspect was transported by paramedics to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. Following the critical incident protocol, the Vallejo Police Department and Solano County District Attorney’s office are conducting a joint-criminal investigation.
The suspect was identified as Sean Monterrosa, 22 year-old male from San Francisco. The suspect has a criminal history of shoplifting, petty theft, illegal weapons violations, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an inhabited dwelling, carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of narcotics for sale and attempted murdered.
Investigators have made several attempts to contact next of kin.
The officer who discharged his weapon has been placed on routine, paid administrative leave. The witness officers have also been placed on paid administrative leave. The Department is also conducting an Internal Affairs Investigation through our Professional Standards Unit.
Anyone with information is asked to contact: Detective Kevin Rose at (707) 651-7146 or Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514.
