Napa PD Releases Body-Cam Video In Officer-Involved Shooting

NAPA, CA — The Napa Police Department on Monday released body-worn camera footage of the moments that led to a fatal officer-involved shooting last week at a Napa apartment complex. The video was released in a news conference held at 1 p.m. at Napa City Hall.

Napa police Chief Robert Plummer spoke during the press conference, describing critical moments of the 16-minute video and discussing the shooting, which is being investigated by the Napa County Sheriff's Office.

The video shows the involved officer, identified as Christopher Simas, enroute to the call early Dec. 5, his attempts to get 27-year-old David Alejandro Molina to comply, and the efforts to save him, city officials said.

Napa police officers were sent at 1:50 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 to the Kentwood Apartments on Soscol Avenue after being called about an assault.

According to Napa police:

"The caller provided information to our dispatchers that the person responsible for the incident was armed with a handgun. The man left the apartments and not long after officers found the man on Soscol Avenue. Officers asked the man to put his hands up and get on the ground multiple times. What followed was a foot chase into the Stonehouse Apartment complex. The chase lasted several minutes. A fight took place at the end of the chase and the officer used his department issued rifle. The man died at the scene. The officer suffered minor injuries."

Chief Plummer said Napa police officers started wearing cameras within the last 30 days, and that Officer Simas activated his camera once he was dispatched to the call.

Clips from the 911 call were played. The person who called was a male and identified Molina by name, telling the dispatcher he saw Molina assault his girlfriend at the corner of Riverglen and Soscol Avenue. The caller tells the dispatcher Molina is armed with a revolver in his waistband. The dispatcher asks whether the caller saw the weapon and he tells the dispatcher yes, he saw the handle of the gun when Molina lifted up his shirt.

Three patrol units were dispatched to the scene. Simas was the first to arrive and was in a marked patrol car and was wearing his full uniform, Plummer said.

The video shows Simas holding up his department-issued AR-15 rifle — Plummer said it was the accurate choice of weapon for the situation — for most of a five-minute foot pursuit.

Plummer said Simas gave Molina repeated attempts to get on the ground and put his hands up, yet Molina continued running from Simas until the pair were in a ravine.

Molina can be heard saying "For real?" as Simas, holding the AR-15, continues to follow Molina, shouting for him to get on the ground. Simas repeatedly asks Molina if he has a gun.

Plummer said that Simas pursued Molina down into a ravine, at which point Simas was able to handcuff one of Molina's hands. While he was trying to cuff the other hand it is believed Molina got ahold of the trigger of the AR-15, firing off some shots, Plummer said.

Simas, fearing for his life, re-racked the AR-15 and fired five shots, four of which struck Molina, the chief said.

The handgun police believe Molina had was found fully loaded about 75 feet from the scene of the officer-involved shooting, Plummer said, describing it as a .38-special revolver.

If Molina had survived, the chief said, he would have faced charges of alleged attempted murder of a police officer and being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm.

According to Chief Plummer, witnesses have told Napa police Molina was suicidal as well as homicidal in the days prior to the fatal officer-involved shooting.

Two guns were allegedly found in a search of Molina's residence, Plummer said.

The shooting remains under investigation and Simas remains on administrative leave, Plummer said.

Napa PD released the video to give a transparent account of what happened, the chief said.

Watch the full video presentation with 911 call and body-cam footage [CAUTION: VIDEO IS DISTURBING]:

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Napa Police Release Name Of Officer Involved In Fatal Shooting

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