A man identified as Romaine Morgan, 43, of Stockton, CA, was fatally shot by Brentwood police after a suspected DUI stop last Wednesday, which ended in a violent confrontation. According to the City of Brentwood Police Department's social media post, Morgan was shot after he allegedly grabbed for a rifle during the arrest attempt.
The incident, which occurred near Balfour Road and Foothill Drive at around 10:55 PM, began when officers pulled Morgan over on suspicion of driving under the influence. According to the Hoodline report, the situation escalated quickly as Morgan "physically resisted arrest, refused to follow verbal commands, and ultimately grabbed the high-powered rifle." An officer then fired upon Morgan an unknown number of times to quickly put down the threat.
Following the shooting, investigators uncovered that Morgan had no legal right to own a firearm due to his status as a convicted felon with an extensive history of weapons-related charges. The rifle he possessed was described as having no serial number, further compounding the illegal nature of the situation. Morgan's vehicle was registered in his name, adding another layer to the ongoing investigation.
Morgan received emergency medical treatment from the officers at the scene, but he died from the gunshot wounds inflicted. No officers were seriously injured during the altercation. The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office is conducting a parallel investigation under the county's Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incident protocol, and the police department will eventually release body-worn and in-car camera footage as per the law.
