Napa Sheriff Identifies ACPD Officer, Armed Suspects In Officer-Involved Shooting, Chase

AMERICAN CANYON, CA — The Napa County Sheriff's Office on Thursday identified an American Canyon police officer and two suspects involved in a shooting last week in Vallejo.

The suspects, identified as 18-year-old Demarea Vaughn Rogers III, of Vallejo, and 18-year-old Jozan Amarion Hill, also of Vallejo, were initially involved in a pursuit around 3:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, from American Canyon to Vallejo when an officer tried to stop them for a vehicle code violation.

It is alleged that Rogers and Hill took off on foot with loaded handguns as the chase ended near Souza Way and Cronin Drive in Vallejo.

An American Canyon police officer identified as Officer Joshua Coleman gave Rogers multiple commands to drop the guns, sheriff's office Spokesperson Henry Wofford said.

Rogers, who was the front passenger in the car, discarded one of the guns but continued to run with the other gun. That is when he was shot twice by Officer Coleman, who immediately began rendering medical aid, Wofford said.

It is alleged that Rogers was found with a .40-caliber ghost gun and an unregistered .40-caliber Glock containing a high-capacity magazine.

Hill dropped a loaded .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol as he got out of the driver's side of the car, Wofford said, and was taken into custody shortly thereafter.

Rogers suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting and was officially arraigned Thursday while still recovering at a local hospital. Charges include carrying a loaded unregistered firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of a non-serialized handgun, and resisting a peace officer. His bail was set at $50,000.

Hill remained in custody Thursday at the Napa County Department of Corrections with his bail set at $250,000. He was arrested on suspicion of multiple charges, including felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammo by a prohibited person, and evading a peace officer. Hill has a preliminary court hearing scheduled for Jan. 25 at Napa County Superior Court.

Coleman has been placed on administrative leave, which is normal protocol for all officers involved in a shooting, Wofford said. Coleman has been an employee since 2018 of the Napa County Sheriff's Office, which provides police services to the City of American Canyon under a contract.

Under Napa County's protocol for officer-involved shootings, the Solano County Major Crimes Task Force responded to the scene the day of the shooting and is conducting an independent investigation.