Veteran Richmond Cop Shot, Killed at Home in Vallejo

An off-duty Richmond police officer was shot and killed early Thursday morning, an incident that may have resulted from a dispute over the officer's 6-year-old grandson.

Vallejo police identified the victim as Augustine "Gus" Vegas, 58, a 15-year veteran of the Richmond Police Department.

Investigators said during a press conference late Thursday morning that the suspect in the incident, Robert Vega, 30, was arrested in Fairfield several hours after the shooting.

Police described Vega as the father of Vegas' grandson and said the two adults argued before the shooting. Vega fled afterward, taking the 6-year-old boy with him. The boy was found unharmed when police arrested Vega.

Vallejo police cordoned off Narragansett Court in the Glen Cove neighborhood immediately after the shooting.

A neighbor of Vegas said she heard yelling around 4:30 a.m. at 35 Narragansett Court, then banging and a gunshot.

The neighbor, who did not want her name used, described Vegas as a "kind" man who held events for foster children in the community.

The San Francisco Chronicle's Evan Sernoffsky reported Vegas' Richmond colleagues were in shock:

“We are stunned and saddened,” said Richmond interim Police Chief Allwyn Brown. “Gus was very likable, always pleasant and good-natured. I never saw him have a bad day or a bad mood. It’s a tough loss.

“He was engaging and interactive with the community and with young people. He was a likable and lovable guy,” the chief said.
Richmond police Capt. Mark Gagan, who worked daily with Vegas, said the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute.

“When someone like Gus gets killed, something is wrong,” Gagan said. “He was always about giving back. As a homicide investigator, he brought a lot of healing and closure to families he dealt with. The dynamics of domestic violence need to be addressed.”

KRON TV reported that Vegas and his wife were well known in the community:

A family friend told KRON that Vegas and his wife Sandra ran a fostering program for children from their home in the Glen Cove subdivision of Vallejo.

“It’s horrific, they have a beautiful family, they’re just beautiful people,” said Renee McCrary.

“They have 10 kids,” she said. “Their kids are always around them, they are a very, very close loving family.”

This post includes reporting from Bay City News.