Sean Monterrosa, a 22-year-old Latino American man, was fatally shot by Vallejo police officer Jarrett Tonn on June 2, 2020. Monterrosa was on his knees with his hands above his waist when Tonn fired through the windshield of his unmarked police pickup truck, mistakenly believing that a hammer in Monterrosa's pocket was a gun. This incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. while Vallejo was under curfew due to looting and protests following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Monterrosa was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The shooting of Monterrosa sparked significant outrage in the Bay Area, particularly in Vallejo, a city with a history of police violence and excessive force complaints. The Vallejo Police Department had the highest per capita rate of police shootings in Northern California as of May 2019. Monterrosa's death added to the list of high-profile killings by Vallejo police, including the shootings of Ronnell Foster in 2018 and Willie McCoy in 2019.
Officer Jarrett Tonn, who had been with the Vallejo Police Department since 2014, had previously been involved in three other shootings while on duty, none of which resulted in fatalities. Despite these incidents, Tonn was cleared of wrongdoing by internal investigations each time. Following Monterrosa's death, Tonn was named in an unrelated excessive force and civil rights lawsuit in federal court.
The California Department of Justice took over the criminal investigation into Monterrosa's death in May 2021. However, as of June 2023, Attorney General Rob Bonta's office had not provided any updates on the case, leaving Monterrosa's family and the community awaiting justice. The lack of video evidence showing Monterrosa's actions before he was shot, due to the obscured body camera footage and destroyed drone footage, has further complicated the investigation.
Monterrosa's family has been vocal in their pursuit of justice, emphasizing the need for accountability and systemic change within the Vallejo Police Department. They have highlighted the broader issue of police violence and the impact it has on communities, particularly those of color. Despite the ongoing investigation and public pressure, no criminal charges have been filed against Tonn, and the Monterrosa family continues to seek answers and justice for Sean's death.
