CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office has released its investigative report into the fatal Brentwood police shooting of Romaine Alexander Morgan, concluding that three officers acted lawfully and will not face criminal charges.
The report examines the Dec. 24, 2025, shooting and concludes that Officers Tanner Kephart, Chelsea Valadez, and Kimberly Beltran acted in lawful self-defense and defense of others when they used deadly force during a confrontation with Morgan.
According to the report, the incident began at about 10:54 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2025, when Officer Kephart spotted Morgan's vehicle traveling well below the 45 mph speed limit on Deer Valley Road.
The report states the vehicle weaved across the roadway and swerved to the right, prompting Kephart to initiate a traffic stop on Balfour Road on suspicion of driving under the influence. Officers Valadez and Beltran arrived shortly afterward as back up.
During a search of Morgan's vehicle, according to the report, Beltran found an AR-style firearm inside a jacket on the front passenger floorboard. Investigators later determined the firearm was unmarked.
After officers discovered the weapon, Kephart ordered Morgan to place his hands behind his back, according to the report. Instead, prosecutors wrote, Morgan pushed Valadez and ran east on Balfour Road before reversing direction and sprinting back toward his vehicle.
Officers attempted to stop him, but authorities reported that Morgan punched and shoved them as they struggled beside the vehicle. Valadez deployed her Taser on Morgan, who the report describes as 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 320 pounds, but the device was ineffective.
According to prosecutors, Morgan reached the vehicle, grabbed the loaded rifle by its pistol grip, turned toward the officers, and raised the barrel in their direction.
All three officers immediately backed away, according to the report. Kephart retreated beside his patrol vehicle, drew his service weapon, and fired 10 rounds in rapid succession.
Officers and emergency medical personnel rendered aid at the scene, but Morgan died from his injuries and was pronounced dead by paramedics.
Following the shooting, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office opened an independent investigation under county protocol to determine whether any of the officers bore criminal responsibility.
Prosecutors concluded the officers' actions were legally justified, according to the report, after reviewing the evidence and applying California law and the California District Attorneys Association's Uniform Crime Charging Standards.
"Officers Kephart, Valadez, and Beltran acted in lawful self-defense/defense of others, and their use of force was reasonable under the circumstances," prosecutors concluded. "As such, no further action will be taken in this case."
The district attorney's office said it has forwarded the report to the Brentwood Police Department and the California Department of Justice. The full report is available on the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office website.
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