California Man Killed by Police Left Apology Note

A man who was fatally shot by a Vallejo, Calif., police officer Saturday night left “a letter of apology,” police said in a press release issued a few hours later.

The shooting occurred at about 6 p.m. in the Sleep Train store parking lot at the Vallejo Corners Shopping Center. In the release, police told the Vallejo Times Herald 9-1-1 received a report from a man who was driving through the parking lot of the Target Center near Sleep Train when his car was struck by a beer bottle. The man then noticed a man holding a large knife standing next to a dark-colored truck “appearing extremely agitated.”

A responding officer arrived on scene and located the truck and the suspect. The officer exited his patrol car and “was immediately confronted by the male suspect who was armed with a large knife,” according to the release. The officer also noticed a firearm in the suspect’s waistband, police said.

“The officer ordered the suspect to drop the knife several times, but the suspect refused to comply and advanced on the officer. The officer discharged his firearm, striking the suspect,” the release stated.

The knife and the firearm, which was later identified as a replica gun, were recovered at the scene.

During the investigation, police located a note, which was “a letter of apology for the trouble, which the suspect caused. In addition, he apologized to the police that were forced to end his life,” according to the release. Police also said the suspect “had previous contacts with law enforcement to include gun-related charges.”