Monday Officer-Involved Death Was Third of 2013 in Union City

Updated 1:54 p.m.

A man who was shot and killed during a police investigation Monday night was the third officer-involved death of 2013 in Union City, according to Union City police.

According to Cmdr. Jared Rinetti, there have been eight officer-involved shootings since 2008.

“Unfortunately, a number of officer-involved shootings are dictated by the conduct of the individuals we come into contact with,” Rinetti told Patch. “We train to deescalate situations. It is our goal to resolve them peacefully, however, that’s not always possible.”

Monday’s fatal shooting occurred after Union City police officers responded to a neighborhood disturbance at 8:30 p.m. on the 4200 block of Saturn Way, near Contempo Park. Police said the suspect — who was on parole and had a warrant for resisting or deterring an officer by use of threat, force or violence — was armed with a metal pipe and refused to comply with officers’ commands. When he threatened the officers with the metal pipe, an officer fired at the suspect.

The as-of-yet unidentified suspect was transported to a local hospital where he eventually succumbed to his wounds, according to police.

Monday’s fatal officer-involved shooting follows two earlier cases in 2013.

On Aug. 31, officers responded to the 32600 block of Kenita Way near Medallion Drive at about 2:30 p.m. after receiving a flood of 9-1-1 calls about a gunman walking around the neighborhood and randomly discharging a firearm.

The suspect — identified as 46-year-old Vergel Ricafrente Worrell — reportedly fired 10 to 15 shots in the area. In a 9-1-1 call released to the public, a frantic caller said the suspect was firing a weapon and shouting “f--k the FBI” and “kill me now.” Another caller said she was driving down the street and was almost hit by gunfire. 

Responding officers, including a hostage negotiator and an officer specializing in persons with mental illness, attempted to calm Worrell down but he refused to cooperate, police said. Worrell eventually pointed a handgun at officers, causing them to open fire on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

On March 2, 26-year-old Amos G. Smith was shot and killed after police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Dyer Street south of Meteor Way. Police said Smith attempted to flee on foot and refused to follow the officers' commands. He then reached into his waistband, pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the officers. The officers fired in self-defense, police said. Smith was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

Smith’s death was met with public outcry. Friends and family held a rally in April to demand answers from Union City police, claiming he was shot in the back, and filed a civil lawsuit against the Union City Police Department.

At the time of his death, Smith was one of five suspects killed by Bay Area police officers in four days.

Each of the Union City officer-involved cases are still under investigation, Rinetti said. The Union City Police Department and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office are conducting separate investigations.

Union City police could not comment on any of the investigations and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office was not available for comment Tuesday morning.

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