Vallejo Police Identify 'Despondent' Man Killed By Officers Thursday

Bay City News Service

Vallejo police have identified the man who was fatally shot by two officers late Thursday night as 53-year-old Peter Mestler of Vallejo.

Police responded just before midnight to a report that a man in a long black jacket had pulled a gun on a cab driver, Lt. Ken Weaver said. When the officers arrived, the suspect, Mestler, was quickly walking away and the officers ordered him to stop and show his hands, Weaver said.

Mestler pulled a firearm out of his jacket pocket and the officers ordered him to drop the gun, but Mestler continued to turn toward the officers, Weaver said.

Both officers shot Mestler who died at the scene. It was determined the gun was a replica of a Beretta Cougar BB gun, Sgt. Jeff Bassett said. The investigation into the shooting indicates Mestler's actions may be due to his despondency about a pending divorce, Bassett said.