Fatal Napa Deputy-Involved Shooting: Sheriff Releases Video

NAPA, CA —The Napa County Sheriff's Office has released video and a detailed account of a recent fatal deputy-involved shooting. Napa resident Brandan Reid Nylander, 24, was shot twice by Napa County sheriff's Deputy Gregg Lee, and died at the scene of the shooting April 24 near the Napa County Airport.

In a briefing held Tuesday, sheriff's officials said Nylander apparently intended to commit "suicide by cop."

Nylander left his family a suicide note, and his "accumulated actions" before his death also indicated he intended to end his life, Napa County Sheriff John Robertson told members of the media.

The officer-involved shooting happened at 2:27 p.m. April 24 in the 4000 block of Airport Road in Napa.

According to a timeline of events leading up to the shooting, the sheriff's office says Nylander robbed ammunition for his shotgun from Walmart then led Deputy Lee on a chase.

Two rounds that Nylander stole in Walmart were later found in his shotgun, Roberston said.

Napa police dispatchers got a 911 call at 2:09 p.m. about the robbery. Dispatchers said a man reportedly went into the Walmart on Lincoln Avenue with a hammer and smashed a glass case to grab ammunition. As he left the store, he reportedly threw the hammer which hit a Walmart employee.

Dispatchers broadcast a description of the robbery suspect and his car, which Lee spotted at 2:25 p.m. as Nylander drove south on state Highway 29 toward Airport Boulevard.

Lee signaled for Nylander to stop but instead, Nylander drove erratically, changed lanes and drove onto the highway shoulder at speeds up to 75 mph, according to the sheriff's office.

The chase lasted nearly 3 minutes until Nylander turned onto a dead-end road and came to a locked gate, where he stopped his car as it hit the gate, the sheriff's office said.

According to a statement from the sheriff's office:

"Nylander opened his car door while Deputy Lee was shifting his patrol car into park. Three seconds later, the suspect stepped out of his car with a loaded shotgun and pointed the firearm in the direction of Deputy Lee and Deputy Christopher Roberts, who was arriving on his patrol motorcycle.

"Three seconds later, the suspect stepped out of his car with a loaded shotgun and pointed the firearm in the direction of Deputy Lee and Deputy Christopher Roberts, who was arriving on his patrol motorcycle.

"Nylander's actions prompted Deputy Lee to fire two shots; however both shots missed the suspect.

"Carrying the shotgun in his left hand, Nylander raised his hands, turned and began walking away from deputies, towards the front of his car, which could be used as cover. Deputy Lee fired two more shots, which hit the suspect in the buttocks and in the back of the neck, causing the suspect to drop the gun and fall to the ground."

Cal Fire paramedics were summoned to provide medical aid at the scene, where Nylander was pronounced deceased at 2:40 p.m.

Sheriff Robertson said the fatal shot struck Nylander near his skull.

There was no sound to a 20-second video of the shooting released by the sheriff's office; Robertson said Nylander said nothing during the officer-involved shooting.

The Napa County Major Crimes Task Force, which includes members of the Napa County District Attorney's Office, responded to the scene and is continuing its investigation of the shooting.

Lee, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, was placed on paid administraive leave under the department's protocol for deputy-involved shootings.

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• Authorities ID Napa Man, 24, Fatally Shot By Deputy
• 1 Dead In Deputy-Involved Shooting Near Napa County Airport

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.