California Police Officer Kills Man On His Knees, Thought Hammer Was A Gun

A 22-year-old man was shot and killed on Tuesday night by a police officer that mistook the man’s hammer in his waistband for a gun.

The man was identified as Sean Monterrosa.

During a press conference on Wednesday,  Vallejo Police Chief Shawny Williams discussed the police shooting. He mentioned that Monterrosa was a suspect for a break-in at a local Walgreens and was shot between the hours of midnight and 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The chief also stated that Monterrosa was on his knees before he was shot. He died several hours later.

“This individual appeared to be running toward the 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,” said Chief Williams.

Williams did not mention the name of the officer that killed Monterrosa during the conference. Williams said that the officer was on the force for 18 years. The police chief also refused to answer if he thought the officer used excessive force.

“The Solano District Attorney will make the ultimate finding if the force was legal,” Williams stated.

Monterrosa, who was identified as Hispanic by Williams, was killed during a time where protestors are fighting against police brutality all across the nation. The focus has been primarily on the unjustified killings of Black Americans at the hands of the police.

The family of Monterrosa has acquired an attorney who has previously sued the city on several occasions over police killings. An attorney at the firm shared with the Daily News that the family is demanding the release of the body cam footage or surveillance footage from the fatal incident.

“If the city wants to be transparent, they need to release them now,” she said.

Meanwhile, John Burris, Monterrosa’s family attorney said, “[The officer] 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.”

According to ABC News, the shooting officer has been placed on routine paid administrative leave as have the witness officers.