Police: Napa officer shoots, kills assault suspect

A Napa police officer shot and killed an assault suspect early Wednesday after a foot chase and fight with the man, authorities said.

The shooting occurred after officers were called at 1:50 a.m. to the Kentwood Apartments near Soscol Avenue regarding an assault by a man possibly armed with a gun, police said in a statement.

Officers spotted the suspect on a skateboard near the apartment complex. However, he refused to stop, and ran into an apartment complex about a half-mile south, with an officer after him, police said.

The man ignored repeated orders to stop, and when the officer caught him blocks later, the two scuffled and the officer shot the man with a department rifle, police said.

Authorities closed Soscol Avenue at Lincoln Avenue in both directions for hours as they conducted an investigation.

The Napa County Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the fatal shooting. The officer, whose name wasn’t released, was put on administrative leave.

No further details were available Wednesday.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.