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LISTEN: Dispatch audio from off-duty officer involved shooting
VALLEJO — The off-duty Richmond officer who shot and killed a Vallejo man during an argument outside a popular restaurant here has been identified as Sgt. Virgil Thomas, a 27-year veteran of the force.
Thomas, a patrol sergeant, shot and killed 38-year-old Eric Reason, after the two argued at the parking lot of JJ’s Fish and Chicken at around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Police say two guns, including one belonging to Thomas, were recovered. The Richmond police union put out a statement Monday alleging Reason “confronted” Thomas with a gun.
The shooting took place near the intersection of Sereno and Fairgrounds Drives in Vallejo, in a parking lot that contains a Valero gas station and the fish and chicken restaurant. Reason and Thomas did not know each other, and both happened upon the location at the same time when a spontaneous confrontation arose, police said. Area residents told reporters Sunday evening that they heard roughly half a dozen shots.
On Monday at noon, members of Reason’s family, friends and supporters that included family members of others killed by police officers gathered in the parking lot for a vigil. They lit candles, exchanged hugs and held an emotional prayer circle as news cameras filmed.
“My son was an awesome young man. He was raised very well, very respectful. He had six kids, and now his kids are fatherless,” Reason’s mother, Stephanie Bass, told reporters before the vigil. “He didn’t deserve to die like that.”
Thomas was sequestered and questioned after the shooting, but not arrested, police said. Although Thomas was not on-duty, local authorities have invoked Solano County’s protocol for officer-involved shootings, which means the district attorney will join Vallejo police to investigate what happened.
Richmond police Det. Ben Therriault, the president of the department’s police union, issued a statement blaming Reason and predicting Thomas would be cleared.
“Unfortunately, when a police officer is confronted with a felon armed with a firearm, deadly force may be necessary,” Therriault said. “We ask that you please reserve judgment until the investigation is finished.”
Melissa Nold, an Oakland civil rights attorney who stopped by the vigil and consoled Reason’s family, released a statement calling for an outside investigation. Nold works for the law offices of John Burris, which primarily handles police brutality lawsuits.
“A veteran police sergeant provoked this incident and then inexplicably escalated it to deadly force, in violation of his nearly three decades of training and experience,” Nold said. She later added, “VPD did not handcuff Sgt. Thomas or treat him like a murder suspect whatsoever. He was processed as if this was an on-duty officer-involved shooting, which is outrageous.”
According to Thomas’ Linkedin page, he began his career in law enforcement in 1992. His duties as a patrol sergeant include supervising other officers as well as responding to calls.
Thomas was given a short suspension more than a decade ago, according to a high-ranking law enforcement official with knowledge of the suspension. It stemmed from a 2005 accusation that he used excessive force on a man named Ramon Castillo, who had fallen asleep on a sidewalk while walking home from a bar. Castillo sued in 2007, accusing Thomas of waking him up with “a strike to the left side of his neck,” before kicking Castillo several more times.
The suit was settled the following year, according to court records. Details of the settlement were not available.
Reason, a father of six and construction worker, also was known as Cheddaman, a local Vallejo rapper who appeared on a popular 2009 compilation album “Country Club Crest: 3 C’s Down.”
Reason died from his injuries several yards west of the gas station, in the middle of Sereno Drive. As police investigated and taped off the area, a large crowd gathered around and remained there for hours.
Police radio traffic from Sunday evening indicates that Thomas was in touch with local dispatchers within minutes of the shooting.
“The responsible is advising he’s (a police officer). Unknown from where,” a female dispatcher can be heard saying. A male voice responds, telling the dispatcher to “call me” when she finds out what agency the shooter is with.
On Monday afternoon, Richmond police put out a news releasing confirming that an off-duty officer had shot someone, and adding, “We trust Vallejo police department to conduct a fair and thorough investigation.”
“This is a difficult time for our department, any other parties involved, and both the Vallejo and Richmond communities. However, we remain dedicated to providing the best service for all,” the release says.
