Vallejo police investigate homicide near site of fiery overnight sideshow
VALLEJO -- Vallejo police said a man was shot and killed on Saturday morning at an intersection where a large sideshow was taking place.
It was unclear if the homicide victim was connected to the sideshow or a passerby.
Neighbors said there were dozens of cars and at least a hundred spectators at the intersection of Lewis Brown and B.W. Williams Drives between 12 a.m. and 12:40 a.m. Saturday.
"It did wake us up. I have two babies so it woke up the youngest one. They had fireworks going so that was definitely what woke us up," said Katie, who declined to provide a last name.
Katie and her family live near the intersection. She said sideshows are very common there and sometimes people involved would fire their guns.
It came as no surprise when Vallejo police say a man was shot and killed nearby.
"It's scary, it's terrifying. I love this community. I love Vallejo but gun violence is an issue in our community," Katie said.
Vallejo police said they received a call about the shooting just after 12:40 a.m. Two witnesses reported hearing about 20 shots.
Officers found a man with at least one gunshot wound. He died at the scene.
Police said they don't have a motive at this time. Detectives were trying to find out if the victim was a sideshow participant, spectator or a passerby.
"Both frustration and anger," was the reaction of Vallejo mayor Robert McConnell.
McConnell said they have an interim police chief with roughly 70 officers. They're down by about 60 officers, missing almost half of the force. With help from allied agencies, he said officers arrested several people connected to the sideshow.
"There were a total, I think, of five people arrested, one of which was a juvenile. One was taken to jail. The others were cited and released but the police know who they are. One car was impounded but the impound period is only for 30 days. I think it should be three to four months," said McConnell.
Mayor McConnell said the city already installed sideshow deterrent barriers at 20 locations, but Caltrans has jurisdiction over the intersection of Lewis Brown and B.W. Williams Drives.
Mayor McConnell and councilwoman Cristina Arriola would also like to increase punishment for sideshow participants and spectators.
Councilwoman Arriola and some residents even protested outside of a CHP office last month to demand help from the state.
"Especially the governor who deployed all those units to Oakland. Well, give us a little bit, too. We could certainly use the help," said councilwoman Arriola.
After the sideshow and shooting in Vallejo, many of the participants and spectators took over streets and spun doughnuts in Crockett, Richmond and Oakland overnight.
Katie said the sideshows aren't just kids having innocent fun -- the latest killing once again proves they can be dangerous.
"We don't want a stray bullet coming through the house. It's been a concern," Katie said.
The mayor said the people arrested are for participating in the sideshow. It did not appear anyone has been arrested for the homicide.
Vallejo police also confirmed that they arrested one suspect at an earlier sideshow who pointed a laser at a CHP helicopter and led officers on a pursuit Friday night. Police also cited at least three other participants and seized a 10-foot python that was found in the suspect's car.
Vallejo police were asking anyone with information about the case to give them a call at (707) 648-5427. They reported this was the 16th homicide in the city so far in 2024.
