Police Officer Arrived at a Protest, Shoots Through Windshield While His Patrol Car Was Moving
How the new attorney general is demanding accountability and transparency
Putting the right people in the right office will get the right things done, right results and is the best way to bring about change for the better. With the right people at the helm, injustice will breed justice, police brutality will breed police reform and no more qualified immunity, and racism will be punishable by law.
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta is one of those people in the right place at the right time as his office will be reviewing the fatal shooting by a Vallejo police officer, Jarrett Tonn, who fatally killed Sean Monterrosa on June 2. Officer Tonn is facing for possible charges amidst the allegations by a lawyer representing the family of the slain man as this was the fourth shooting by Officer Jarrett Tonn in the last five years.
Officer Tonn was responding to reports that a group of people had broken into Walgreens during the protest against George Floyd’s death. Tonn and another officer arrived on the scene in an unmarked car, according to them, they saw Monterrosa dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt as he ran toward the sedan and then drop to a knee.
The body cam video worn by officer Tonn showed the officer opening fire from inside the vehicle even before it came to a stop. He fired five times through the windshield, killing the 22-year old San Francisco man. Also, Officer Tonn was heard saying, “He pointed a gun at us!” While Monterrosa lay motionless on the ground, another officer yelled “Do not move!” Officer Tonn asked his partner, “Do you see a gun on him?” His partner replied that he did not. Then these officers rolled Monterrosa over, and revealed a hammer sticking out of his pocket. By now, Officer Tonn curses, made a dash to get a medical kit and they performed CPR.
After the killing, Tonn told the investigators that he fired because he saw Monterrosa’s hands moving toward his waist near what he believed was the butt of a handgun, but Monterrosa was not armed with a gun but had a 15-inch hammer. According to reports, Monterrosa was in the process of putting up his hand up when he was shot, didn’t do anything with the hammer, didn’t reach for it, didn't’ pull it out, as they never gave him a chance when he tried to surrender, according to Mr. John Burris, the Monterrosa family’s attorney.
Attorney General Bonta is demanding accountability for justice for the Monterrosa’s family, the community and the people of Vallejo deserves answers for this fatal shooting. Thus far the Vallejo Police department has met their quest with silence. Police in Vallejo have faced intense scrutiny over shootings and questionable tactics. There is a sweeping review of the Police Department’s practices to address use-of-force abuses, officers’ biases and poor transparency by agency officials. Along with this, the police chief fired another officer who had been involved in two fatal shootings of Black men a year apart. One of these shootings was caught on the officer’s video cam and ignited a public outcry after six officers were seen firing 55 rounds in 3.5 seconds at Willie McCoy who had fallen asleep in his car in a Taco Bell drive-through with a gun on his lap.
According to the state Department of Justice officials, the Vallejo police killed 19 people between 2010 and 2020, a large number given the size of their police department.
In conclusion, the wrong people must be voted out of office and communities must demand accountably, transparency and justice for all. Qualified immunity must go and desertification must be implemented so these rambo cops can’t go to another police department and do the same thing. Make the vote count and the voice loud and clear.
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