Napa police release fatal shooting footage

A Napa man was shot to death by police after an early morning foot chase led to a violent struggle for an officer’s rifle, authorities said Monday.

Napa Police Chief Robert Plummer held a news conference to present body camera footage of the chaotic Dec. 5 shooting of 27-year-old David Molina. Dispatchers received a call at 1:48 a.m. reporting an armed man assaulting a woman outside the Kentwood Apartments near Lincoln and Soscol avenues, according to 911 audio released Monday.

Eight minutes later, Officer Christopher Simas fired his department-issued rifle and struck Molina four times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Molina allegedly assaulted the 911 caller’s girlfriend. The man told dispatchers that Molina showed him a revolver tucked into his waistband before walking away.

Three police cars were dispatched to the intersection of Soscol Avenue and River Glen Drive, and Simas arrived first, Plummer said.

“Hey, man, what’s your name?” Simas called out in the video. “Keep your hands up.”

Simas then told Molina that someone reported he had a gun.

“Don’t point that s— at me, bro,” Molina said in the video, as Simas held up a rifle and shined a light on him. Officers are trained to use rifles in response to gun calls, Plummer said.

Body cam footage shows Molina held up his hands and walked away before breaking into a run after Simas radioed for backup. A pursuit ensued and Simas repeatedly told Molina to show his hands.

The suspect repeatedly reached for his waistband during the chase, Plummer said, but it was difficult to see this in the spliced footage presented at Monday’s news conference.

A hat and revolver were located in a ravine where Molina fell during the pursuit, Plummer said, and a later search of Molina’s home turned up two additional firearms.

Video footage showed Simas catching up to Molina in the bushes and asking again whether he had a gun, which the suspect denied. Simas attempted to handcuff Molina but struggled to restrain him beyond one wrist. The footage is unclear after that moment.

Gunshots can be heard in an audio recording. Plummer said the shots were fired by Molina after he got a hand on the trigger of Simas’ rifle. The chief said the rifle was wedged between the two during the fight.

Plummer said Simas’ gun jammed, which forced the officer to “rerack” his weapon. Less than 30 seconds later, Simas — allegedly fearing for his life — fired on Molina and struck him four times. Simas and an unidentified responding officer then attempted to perform CPR on Molina.

Several people interviewed by Napa police told investigators that Molina was suicidal and homicidal in the days leading up to the shooting, Plummer said.

A GoFundMe page set up for Molina’s family has had raised $5,505 as of Monday afternoon. The organizers, listed as the Uhl family, noted that Molina had sustained a traumatic brain injury as a child and had ongoing mental health issues.

“David had a deep love for his family and a heart of gold,” the organizers said on the GoFundMe page.

Simas, who suffered minor injuries, was placed on paid administrative leave per department protocol, Plummer said. He will receive psychological training and be evaluated prior to returning to work.

The Napa County district attorney’s office, Sheriff ’s Office and Police Department are investigating the case.