Vallejo Police
Press Release
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Captain John Whitney
Investigations Bureau
March 29, 2019
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Officer Involved Shooting 900 Block Admiral Callaghan Lane
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***UPDATE #4 OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING: VIDEO PRESENTATION RELEASE ***
Vallejo, CA - The February 9, 2019 officer involved shooting at a local fast food establishment is of significant general community interest. The Vallejo Police Department wants to address the questions that have been raised to help the public digest both the media reports and to facilitate a community dialogue about the facts of this incident. Our hope is that this information helps members of the public separate fact from fiction regarding this incident.
Today, the Vallejo Police Department is releasing an informational video to explain to the community how the events on February 9, 2019 unfolded. The video contains the audio from the 911 call, the audio from the Dispatch Center to the Officers and enhanced video from the body worn cameras each Officer activated during the incident. This is our first time releasing video in this fashion and it is our hope that we provided sufficient context for the community to understand the facts of this incident.
We have also released the raw footage from the six involved officer's body worn cameras. To respect the privacy of the decedent and his family, we are withholding the portions of the videos showing officers rendering medical aid.
It is also important to understand that the incident remains under investigation in accordance with the Solano County Fatal Incident Protocol and additional details around the event are still being explored. Once the investigation is complete, the Solano County District Attorney's Office will make their final determination.
All videos can be accessed through the city of Vallejo's Police Department Facebook page, as well as on our website dedicated to this critical incident: bit.ly/CriticalIncident020919.
***UPDATE #3 IDENTIFICATION CONFIRMED***
The Vallejo Police Department has received confirmation from the Solano County Sheriff-Coroner's Office of the decedent's identity in the officer-involved shooting that occurred on February 09, 2019.
The deceased has been identified by latent print examination as 20-year-old Willie McCoy.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Potential witnesses are encouraged to contact Detective Scott Yates at (707) 648-4533 or Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514.
***UPDATE #2 WITH VIDEO***
Vallejo, CA - The Vallejo Police Department continues to work closely with the Solano County District Attorney's Office to conduct a thorough and in-depth investigation into the officer involved shooting that occurred on February 9, 2019. The identity of the deceased has not been confirmed as of this morning.
"Any loss of life is a tragedy," stated Police Chief Andrew Bidou. "The investigation is still in the early stages, however, the following is a summary of the events that unfolded on the night of the shooting."
At approximately 10:36 PM, the Vallejo Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call from Taco Bell employees located at 974 Admiral Callaghan Lane regarding a subject slumped over in the driver's seat in their drive-thru. Two Vallejo Police patrol officers arrived on scene to check on the welfare of the driver. As the officers approached the vehicle they noticed the driver was unresponsive and had a handgun on his lap.
The officers performed a visual check to determine if other occupants were in the vehicle and began to formulate a plan to safely resolve the situation. The two officers decided to hold their position and did not attempt to wake the driver. Instead, they decided to wait for additional officers to arrive on scene and ensured that people in the parking lot were safe and did not approach the vehicle.
An additional patrol officer arrived on the scene and the officers elected to attempt to open the driver's door with the intention of one officer swiftly retrieving the firearm from the subject's lap, while another officer covered him. Unfortunately, the vehicle was locked. The officers noticed that the vehicle's transmission was in drive. At this time, additional units arrived and the officers positioned a marked patrol vehicle in front of the subject's vehicle to prevent forward or erratic movement.
Officers requested a Patrol Supervisor to respond to the scene for further assistance and began to position a marked Vallejo police patrol car to the rear of the subject's vehicle.
While officers were still positioning a patrol unit to the rear of the vehicle, and waiting for the supervisor, the driver began to suddenly move and looked at the uniformed patrol officers. Officers gave the driver several commands to put his hands up. The driver did not comply and instead he quickly moved his hands downward for the firearm.
Fearing for their safety, six officers fired their duty weapons at the driver. Officers continued to yell commands at the driver and ultimately reached through the broken glass of the driver's window to unlock the vehicle. Officers removed the driver from the vehicle, began rendering medical assistance and attempted lifesaving efforts on the driver. Unfortunately the driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Six officers fired their weapons firing multiple rounds. All shots were fired in approximately four seconds. The involved officers have been placed on administrate leave.
Information confirming the driver's identity, how many times the driver was struck by gunfire, and toxicology will not be available until the autopsy is completed.
Once the Vallejo Police Department receives confirmation from the Solano County Coroner's Office of the identity of the driver, the Vallejo Police Department Professional Standards Division department will attempt to make contact with the driver's next of kin.
The Vallejo Police Department Detective Division is continuing to review all of the Police Officer's body camera footage of this incident. Any potential witnesses are asked to contact Detective Scott Yates at (707) 648-4533 or Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514.
Please click this link to view a recorded statement on this update.
*** UPDATE***
Vallejo, CA - The identity of the driver has not yet been confirmed by the Solano County Coroner's Office. We will release that information when it is confirmed.
Our preliminary investigation has revealed that the firearm that was recovered at the scene was reported stolen out of Oregon. The firearm was a fully loaded 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine inserted in the weapon. The firearm appeared to be fully functional and has been sent to an independent crime lab for further testing.
The Vallejo Police Department has notified the originating agency in Oregon that we have recovered the firearm. At this time, we do not have any further information as to the circumstances surrounding the original theft of the firearm.
***Original PRESS RELEASE***
On February 9, 2019, at approximately 10:36 pm, the Vallejo Police Department Communications Center received a phone call from an employee of the Taco Bell restaurant, 974 Admiral Callaghan Lane. The employee indicated that a Silver Mercedes was parked in the drive thru line and that the driver was slumped over in the driver's seat.
Uniformed police officers responded to the call in order to check on the welfare of the driver. As the officers approached the Mercedes, they could see that the adult male driver was unresponsive, and that he had a handgun on his lap. The officers found that the vehicle was locked and that the Mercedes' transmission was in drive. The officers made efforts to stop any forward progress by the Mercedes as they assessed the situation and asked for additional resources.
The driver, and sole occupant, of the vehicle suddenly began to move. The officers told the driver to keep his hands visible, however the driver quickly reached for the handgun on his lap. In fear for their own safety, the officers discharged their weapons at the driver.
The officers immediately requested medical assistance and began life saving efforts. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. A loaded handgun was recovered from the vehicle.
The name of the driver is not being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation of this incident.
The incident is being investigated in accordance with the Solano County Fatal Incident Protocol.
The Vallejo Police Department is encouraging anyone who may be a witness or who has additional information to contact Detective Scott Yates at (707) 648-4533 or Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514.
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***UPDATE #3 OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING: VIDEO PRESENTATION RELEASE ***
Vallejo, CA - The February 9, 2019 officer involved shooting at a local fast food establishment is of significant general community interest. The Vallejo Police Department wants to address the questions that have been raised to help the public digest both the media reports and to facilitate a community dialogue about the facts of this incident. Our hope is that this information helps members of the public separate fact from fiction regarding this incident.
Today, the Vallejo Police Department is releasing an informational video to explain to the community how the events on February 9, 2019 unfolded. The video contains the audio from the 911 call, the audio from the Dispatch Center to the Officers and enhanced video from the body worn cameras each Officer activated during the incident. This is our first time releasing video in this fashion and it is our hope that we provided sufficient context for the community to understand the facts of this incident.
We have also released the raw footage from the six involved officer's body worn cameras. To respect the privacy of the decedent and his family, we are withholding the portions of the videos showing officers rendering medical aid.
It is also important to understand that the incident remains under investigation in accordance with the Solano County Fatal Incident Protocol and additional details around the event are still being explored. Once the investigation is complete, the Solano County District Attorney's Office will make their final determination.
All videos can be accessed through the city of Vallejo's Police Department Facebook page, as well as on our website dedicated to this critical incident: bit.ly/CriticalIncident020919.
***UPDATE #2 WITH VIDEO***
Vallejo, CA - The Vallejo Police Department continues to work closely with the Solano County District Attorney's Office to conduct a thorough and in-depth investigation into the officer involved shooting that occurred on February 9, 2019. The identity of the deceased has not been confirmed as of this morning.
"Any loss of life is a tragedy," stated Police Chief Andrew Bidou. "The investigation is still in the early stages, however, the following is a summary of the events that unfolded on the night of the shooting."
At approximately 10:36 PM, the Vallejo Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call from Taco Bell employees located at 974 Admiral Callaghan Lane regarding a subject slumped over in the driver's seat in their drive-thru. Two Vallejo Police patrol officers arrived on scene to check on the welfare of the driver. As the officers approached the vehicle they noticed the driver was unresponsive and had a handgun on his lap.
The officers performed a visual check to determine if other occupants were in the vehicle and began to formulate a plan to safely resolve the situation. The two officers decided to hold their position and did not attempt to wake the driver. Instead, they decided to wait for additional officers to arrive on scene and ensured that people in the parking lot were safe and did not approach the vehicle.
An additional patrol officer arrived on the scene and the officers elected to attempt to open the driver's door with the intention of one officer swiftly retrieving the firearm from the subject's lap, while another officer covered him. Unfortunately, the vehicle was locked. The officers noticed that the vehicle's transmission was in drive. At this time, additional units arrived and the officers positioned a marked patrol vehicle in front of the subject's vehicle to prevent forward or erratic movement.
Officers requested a Patrol Supervisor to respond to the scene for further assistance and began to position a marked Vallejo police patrol car to the rear of the subject's vehicle.
While officers were still positioning a patrol unit to the rear of the vehicle, and waiting for the supervisor, the driver began to suddenly move and looked at the uniformed patrol officers. Officers gave the driver several commands to put his hands up. The driver did not comply and instead he quickly moved his hands downward for the firearm.
Fearing for their safety, six officers fired their duty weapons at the driver. Officers continued to yell commands at the driver and ultimately reached through the broken glass of the driver's window to unlock the vehicle. Officers removed the driver from the vehicle, began rendering medical assistance and attempted lifesaving efforts on the driver. Unfortunately the driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Six officers fired their weapons firing multiple rounds. All shots were fired in approximately four seconds. The involved officers have been placed on administrate leave.
Information confirming the driver's identity, how many times the driver was struck by gunfire, and toxicology will not be available until the autopsy is completed.
Once the Vallejo Police Department receives confirmation from the Solano County Coroner's Office of the identity of the driver, the Vallejo Police Department Professional Standards Division department will attempt to make contact with the driver's next of kin.
The Vallejo Police Department Detective Division is continuing to review all of the Police Officer's body camera footage of this incident. Any potential witnesses are asked to contact Detective Scott Yates at (707) 648-4533 or Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514.
Please click this link to view a recorded statement on this update.
*** UPDATE***
Vallejo, CA - The identity of the driver has not yet been confirmed by the Solano County Coroner's Office. We will release that information when it is confirmed.
Our preliminary investigation has revealed that the firearm that was recovered at the scene was reported stolen out of Oregon. The firearm was a fully loaded 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine inserted in the weapon. The firearm appeared to be fully functional and has been sent to an independent crime lab for further testing.
The Vallejo Police Department has notified the originating agency in Oregon that we have recovered the firearm. At this time, we do not have any further information as to the circumstances surrounding the original theft of the firearm.
***Original PRESS RELEASE***
On February 9, 2019, at approximately 10:36 pm, the Vallejo Police Department Communications Center received a phone call from an employee of the Taco Bell restaurant, 974 Admiral Callaghan Lane. The employee indicated that a Silver Mercedes was parked in the drive thru line and that the driver was slumped over in the driver's seat.
Uniformed police officers responded to the call in order to check on the welfare of the driver. As the officers approached the Mercedes, they could see that the adult male driver was unresponsive, and that he had a handgun on his lap. The officers found that the vehicle was locked and that the Mercedes' transmission was in drive. The officers made efforts to stop any forward progress by the Mercedes as they assessed the situation and asked for additional resources.
The driver, and sole occupant, of the vehicle suddenly began to move. The officers told the driver to keep his hands visible, however the driver quickly reached for the handgun on his lap. In fear for their own safety, the officers discharged their weapons at the driver.
The officers immediately requested medical assistance and began life saving efforts. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. A loaded handgun was recovered from the vehicle.
The name of the driver is not being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation of this incident.
The incident is being investigated in accordance with the Solano County Fatal Incident Protocol.
The Vallejo Police Department is encouraging anyone who may be a witness or who has additional information to contact Detective Scott Yates at (707) 648-4533 or Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514.
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