Vallejo Officers Shoot, Kill Benicia Man As Pursuit Ends In Richmond

BENICIA, CA -- UPDATE: A Benicia man killed Wednesday in an officer-involved shooting by Vallejo police in Richmond after a 15-minute pursuit from Vallejo has been identified by the Richmond Police Department as 45-year-old Jeffrey Barboa. Believed to be a suspect in an El Cerrito armed robbery on July 26, Barboa was fatally shot around 5:20 p.m. in the 3400 block of Richmond Parkway.

Vallejo police said Barboa got out of a white four-door sedan and advanced on officers with a machete raised over his head. Five officers shot Barboa, striking him multiple times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Vallejo police have not identified the officers or where they tried to stop Barboa's vehicle in Vallejo.

Richmond police Lt. Felix Tan said no further information on the shooting will be released at this time.

ORIGINAL POST: A Benicia man was killed in an officer-involved shooting Wednesday after he allegedly wielded a machete at Vallejo police officers following a high-speed pursuit that began in Vallejo and ended in Richmond. Vallejo officers initially tried to stop the 45-year-old Benicia man, whose name was not immediately released, at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday because the vehicle he was driving was flagged in connection with an armed robbery July 26 in El Cerrito, Vallejo police said in a news release.

"The person associated with the vehicle was reported to be armed and dangerous," Vallejo police Lt. Jeff Bassett stated. "The suspect driver of the vehicle refused to yield to the officers and led them on a high speed pursuit ... "

The chase ended about 15 minutes later in the 3400 block of Richmond Parkway in Richmond, where, according to the lieutenant, the Benicia man got out of the vehicle and "advanced on officers with a machete raised overhead" and "refused numerous orders to drop the weapon and submit to arrest."

Because officers perceived the suspect as an immediate and deadly threat, they fired their duty weapons in order to stop the suspect's actions, Bassett said.

Five officers discharged their weapons, striking the suspect multiple times, the lieutenant said.

The Benicia man was pronounced dead at the scene; his name was being withheld pending notification of his family members.

Richmond police Lt. Felix Tan said no one else was injured and there were no other suspects.

Richmond Parkway was closed between Lakeside Drive and Interstate Highway 80 for several hours as police investigated the shooting. At 12:24 a.m. Thursday, Richmond police announced on Twitter that the roadway had reopened.

The officer-involved shooting is being investigated in cooperation with the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office in accordance with the County Fatal Incident Protocol, Bassett said.

"Anyone who may have information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Vallejo Police Department," Bassett said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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