California Looting Suspect Shot Dead By Police While On His Knees, Officer Mistook Hammer For Gun

A looting suspect was shot dead by a police officer while he was on his knees. The incident took place in California on Tuesday (June 2) morning.

Vallejo police responded to a Walgreens store after receiving multiple calls of looting. As soon as they arrived, two vehicles drove away from the scene and the officials chased them. One of the vehicles, a black sedan, rammed a police car as it fled the scene. The other officers then saw 22-year-old Sean Monterrosa trying to get into the sedan. The suspect, from San Francisco, was shot dead by an unidentified officer who thought the suspect had a gun in his sweatshirt.

At a press conference Wednesday, Police Chief Shawny Williams said the officer mistook a hammer for a gun.

“This individual appeared to be running toward a black sedan but suddenly stopped, taking a kneeling position and placing his hands above his waist, revealing 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 police chief said.

The press conference, however, ended abruptly after residents gathered outside the Vallejo City Hall.

In an emailed statement issued following the press conference, the police chief said the suspect “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.”

Chief Williams did not release the name of the officer but said he was an 18-year veteran. The officer who shot the man and the witness officers have been placed on routine paid administrative leave.

Meanwhile, Attorney John Burris, representing Monterrosa's family, said, "He did not see Mr. Monterrosa put his hands on it in a threatening way. So the question here is what threat if any did he actually present.”

Investigation into the incident was ongoing.