Vallejo Officer to Stand Trial in Sean Monterrosa Shooting Case
UPDATE: U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd has just ruled that Vallejo police officer Jarrett Tonn will stand trial for the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Sean Monterrosa on June 2, 2020. The judge denied motions for summary judgment, stating that the evidence remains too conflicting to dismiss the case before trial.
This decision comes as a significant development in a case that has drawn widespread attention and community outrage. Judge Drozd emphasized that the jury will need to evaluate whether Monterrosa made a “furtive movement” that prompted Tonn to fire multiple shots through his unmarked police truck’s windshield. The shooting occurred during a looting incident at a Walgreens store in Vallejo, where Monterrosa was reportedly on his knees with his hands above his waist when he was shot.
The judge noted, “Viewing this evidence most favorably for plaintiffs, defendants have failed to carry their burden of showing that there is no genuine dispute of fact,” highlighting discrepancies in witness accounts about Monterrosa’s actions at the time of the shooting. According to police, Tonn believed Monterrosa was reaching for a weapon when in fact he had a hammer in his pocket.
In a poignant statement, Monterrosa’s sister, Michelle Monterrosa, shared with the Times-Herald, “We relive the drama of June 2, 2020, every single day.” She expressed gratitude for community support, stating, “What keeps us sane is the community. The community has had our back ever since this started.”
In addition to the trial, the City of Vallejo has been ordered to seal specific documents related to the case, with attorneys required to present proposed dates for a final pretrial conference within the next two weeks. Tonn was previously terminated from the Vallejo Police Department in 2022 after investigations revealed he violated multiple department policies regarding the use of deadly force and failed to de-escalate the situation.
Despite being reinstated in 2023 with $118,050 in back pay following an Attorney General investigation that found insufficient evidence for criminal charges, Tonn’s actions continue to be scrutinized. The investigation concluded that Tonn misjudged the threat presented by Monterrosa, further complicating the narrative surrounding the tragic event.
This case remains a flashpoint in discussions surrounding police accountability and community safety, drawing attention from activists and legal experts alike. The upcoming trial will undoubtedly bring further scrutiny to the Vallejo Police Department’s practices and the broader implications of police use of force.
Readers are encouraged to stay tuned for further updates as this trial unfolds, with significant implications for both the Monterrosa family and the Vallejo community.
