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 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.
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.
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.
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.