On Sunday, November 10,2019 at approximately 5:25 PM, Vallejo Police Officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 500 block of Fairgrounds Drive, in the City of Vallejo.
Investigators from the Solano County District Attorney's Office and the Vallejo Police Department
are conducting a joint Solano County Officer-Involved Fatal Incident Protocol investigation. The Solano County Coroner's Office has identified the deceased subject as Eric Reason, a 38-year-old Vallejo resident.
The preliminary investigation revealed Reason was driving away from the gas pumps located in the shopping complex, when off-duty Richmond Police Department Sergeant, Virgil Thomas, driving his personal vehicle, pulled into the parking lot of the shopping complex. The two vehicles momentarily stopped while facing one another and Sgt. Thomas honked his car horn to audibly warn the other driver of his immediate presence.
Sgt. Thomas then pulled his personal vehicle into one of the parking stalls and exited his vehicle. Reason then stopped his vehicle, perpendicular to the officer's vehicle, rolled down the window, and began yelling at Sgt. Thomas.
Reason then exited his vehicle and walked within inches of Sgt. Thomas while directing profanities at him. Reason then walked back to his vehicle, opened the hood, and retrieved a rag containing a handgun. Reason armed himself with a handgun and approached Sgt. Thomas a second time. Sgt. Thomas subsequently drew his weapon and fired at Reason in response to an observed threat.
Reason fled with the gun in his hand and at some point raised the gun. Sgt. Thomas believed that Reason still posed an immediate threat to the safety of Sgt. Thomas, his wife, who was a passenger in the vehicle, and other patrons of the shopping complex. Sgt. Thomas subsequently fired his weapon at Reason. Reason was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation will continue and the findings will be determined by the District Attorney's Office.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed this incident is encouraged to contact Detective S. Yates (707) 648-4533 or Detective J. Scott (707) 648-4531.
