Vallejo cop tied to 2 killings in year

A Vallejo police officer involved in the Feb. 9 fatal shooting of Willie McCoy also shot and killed another man nearly a year earlier, according to public records.

On Wednesday evening, the Vallejo Police Department released the names of the six officers involved in the Feb. 9 shooting: Officers Ryan McMahon, Collin Eaton, Bryan Glick, Jordon Patzer, Anthony Romero-Cano and Mark Thompson. All of the officers, whose names were first reported by the Bay Area News Group, were placed on administrative leave following McCoy’s death.

McMahon was the one involved in the prior shooting.

That incident began when he and another, unidentified, police officer followed Ronell Foster on Feb. 13, 2018, as he biked through downtown Vallejo. Authorities said Foster struck McMahon on the head with a flashlight and tried to flee the scene, which prompted the officer to shoot Foster in the back and back of the head.

Civil rights attorney John Burris, who represents both Foster’s and McCoy’s families, sued the city of Vallejo in March and claimed Foster did not attack the officer.

The six officers involved in the Feb. 9 incident responded at 10:36 p.m. to the Taco Bell at 974 Admiral Callaghan Lane to a report of a man slumped over the steering wheel of his car.

The man, later identified as McCoy, was unresponsive when police arrived at the fast-food restaurant’s drivethrough. But he allegedly awoke as officers commanded him to show his hands, authorities said.

“The officers told the driver to keep his hands visible, however the driver quickly reached for the handgun on his lap,” police said in a statement. “In fear for their own safety, the officers discharged their weapons at the driver.” McCoy died at the scene. His family has questioned the police response in the days after his death.

“It was like execution by firing squad, with six people with fully loaded guns,” said David Harrison, McCoy’s cousin.

When reached by phone, Burris called the revelation about McMahon “disappointing” and said it raises concerns about discipline and conduct in the department.

“Vallejo, honestly, hasn’t done much to control this officer,” he said. “This issue will be part of our litigation going forward.”

The Foster lawsuit is still active in federal court.

A spokesman for the Vallejo Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.