California Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Thursday his office will conduct an independent review of the fatal shooting of Sean Monterrosa by a Vallejo Police officer in June of 2020.
Bonta also sharply criticized Solano County's district attorney for declining to investigate the case. "Without accountability, there is no justice," Bonta said in a news release. "It’s past time Sean Monterrosa’s family, the community, and the people of Vallejo get some answers."
Police were responding to reports of looting at a Walgreens when they saw Monterrosa kneeling in front of the store. Officers said they thought he was reaching for a weapon just before one fired shots through the windshield of an unmarked car.
No weapons were found on Monterrosa.
Police later said they mistook a hammer sticking out of his pocket for a gun.
Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams initially asked the state to take over the prosecution but officials declined, saying she didn't provide any information as to why her office couldn't fairly handle the case. She then recused her office citing a lack of public trust and exceptional circumstances.
Bonta, however, was highly critical of Abrams. He said she "unilaterally abdicated her responsibility as the elected district attorney" in refusing to conduct a review of the investigation of the incident.
Monterrosa's family has filed a federal lawsuit against the city.
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