A sedan sits unoccupied among flash police lights as Vallejo police and Solano County Sheriff's deputies search for evidence of a shooting at night.
Vallejo police and Solano County Sheriff’s deputies search for evidence near the intersection of Sonoma Boulevard and Florida Street in Vallejo, Calif. on Aug. 24, 2024.

Three people were shot, one fatally, during a violent weekend that taxed Vallejo’s beleaguered police force and required the assistance of multiple outside agencies.

The chaos began late Friday evening with a high-speed pursuit that started near Vallejo City Hall. Officers gave chase after an occupant of a Cadillac CT6 allegedly pointed a green laser at a California Highway Patrol helicopter and a police unit on the ground, according to dispatch audio and Vallejo police.

The chase reached speeds of 120 mph before ending in nearby Hercules, Calif. Police arrested the driver and recovered a 10-foot snake from the vehicle’s backseat around 11:45 p.m.

About 15 minutes later, police responded to a shooting near the intersection of Pennsylvania and Marin Streets in downtown Vallejo. Medics found a male shooting victim in a car stopped at Sonoma Boulevard and Florida Street, about half a mile away, according to dispatch audio. They transported him to a hospital. 

Vallejo Police Cpl. Jaleesa Bradshaw (left) and Ofc. Robin Menefee secure the scene near Sonoma Boulevard and Florida Street, where a shooting victim’s car came to a stop on Aug. 24, 2024 in Vallejo, Calif.
A female police officer, dressed in a dark uniform and beanie, carefully holds a "Police Line Do Not Cross" tape as she secures a crime scene at night. The scene is lit by the red and blue flashing lights of nearby police vehicles.
Vallejo Police Cpl. Jaleesa Bradshaw unrolls crime scene tape shortly after returning from a pursuit into nearby Hercules, Calif., which ended with Bradshaw securing a 10-foot python that was in the backseat of the suspect’s vehicle.
A police officer walks along a dimly lit sidewalk at night, marked with yellow evidence markers. The scene is illuminated by the officer's flashlight and the distant glow of police vehicle lights
Vallejo Police Sgt. Matthew Komoda places evidence markers at the scene of a shooting at Pennsylvania and Marin Streets in Vallejo, Calif. on Aug. 24, 2024.
A sheriff's deputy, wearing a black uniform and hat, is illuminated by the blue and red lights of patrol vehicles at night, creating a dramatic contrast between the bright lights and the dark surroundings.
Solano County Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Richard Bennett searches for evidence at Sonoma Boulevard and Florida Street in Vallejo, Calif. on Aug. 24, 2024.
A police officer in a car at night is partially obscured by yellow crime scene tape, with only her face visible, lit by the red and blue lights outside the vehicle. The image captures a moment of concentration.
Vallejo Police Ofc. Valeria Banda speaks with a man in the backseat of a patrol car near the scene of a shooting at Pennsylvania and Marin Streets on Aug. 24, 2024.

Vallejo police secured the two crime scenes with assistance from the Solano County Sheriff’s Office and California Maritime police. As they started searching for evidence, around 12:41 a.m. Saturday, an emergency tone sounded over the radio. Multiple callers reported a second shooting at the scene of a sideshow on Lewis Brown Drive and B.W. Williams Drive, according to dispatch audio.

Sheriff’s deputies scrambled to their vehicles, leaving Vallejo police to investigate the downtown shooting. The deputies found a man suffering from at least one fatal gunshot wound. 

Two officers shine flashlights as they walk down a dark road, which is cordoned off with crime scene tape. The area is dimly lit, with the blue and red flashing lights in the distance casting shadows on the road.
Vallejo police search for evidence at the scene of a fatal shooting on Lewis Brown Drive in Vallejo, Calif. on Aug. 24, 2024.

Hours later, the man’s body lay under a yellow tarp among expended fireworks, chunks of tire rubber, car parts, and empty cups left over from the sideshow. Neither Vallejo police nor the Solano County Coroner’s Office have disclosed the victim’s identity. His death marks Vallejo’s 16th homicide of 2024, according to police.

Two police officers stand next to a white BMW sedan at night, with the car door open. The scene is part of a larger crime scene, with yellow tape marking the area.
Vallejo Police Ofc. Robin Menefee and Cpl. Jaleesa Bradshaw inspect a vehicle connected with a fatal shooting on Lewis Brown Drive in Vallejo, Calif. on Aug. 24, 2024.

A man was also shot in an alleged drive-by around 7:50 p.m. Sunday near a homeless encampment at Sacramento Street and Highway 37. Vallejo police arrived less than 90 seconds later, according to dispatch audio. The victim was transported to a local hospital. 

Multiple police vehicles with flashing lights surround a scene on a dark road. Several officers stand near the cars, talking amongst themselves, while the red and blue lights illuminate the night.
Vallejo police investigate a shooting near Sacramento Street and Highway 37 in Vallejo, Calif. on Aug. 25, 2024.

Vallejo police have announced no arrests in connection with any of the three shootings. Department spokesperson Sgt. Rashad Hollis did not respond to a request for comment.

Geoffrey King is the executive editor of Open Vallejo. Prior to founding Open Vallejo, Geoffrey worked as an attorney and journalist focused on free expression, open government, press freedom and privacy. He is a proud native of Vallejo, California.