A San Francisco Bay-area musician was killed in an officer-involved shooting at a Taco Bell drive-thru on Saturday, police say.
Willie McCoy, a rapper from Vallejo, may have been asleep when police approached him, CBS reported on Sunday. The victim's family are criticizing officers' handling of the incident.
According to the Vallejo Police Department, the shooting happened after deputies were called to a Taco Bell restaurant on Admiral Callaghan Lane at approximately 10:36 p.m. Saturday.
A staff member complained that a silver Mercedes had been parked at the drive-thru and the driver was "slumped over in the driver's seat," police said, adding that deputies had been sent to the scene to check on the driver. The first responders were not named in the media release.
The department said the driver was not responding as they approached and had a handgun on his lap. Officials said the car had been locked and its transmission was in drive.
It was at this point the situation turned deadly, the police account claims.
A statement of events read: "The driver...of the vehicle suddenly began to move. The officers told the driver to keep his hands visible, however the driver quickly reached for the handgun on his lap. In fear for their own safety, the officers discharged their weapons at the driver.
"Officers immediately requested medical assistance and began life saving efforts. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. A loaded handgun was recovered from the vehicle."
A YouTube search for the rapper shows that he had been involved in several high-production music videos that had amassed thousands of views.
McCoy's brother, Marc, told CBS San Francisco that his sibling had been "shot for no reason." He suggested the officers had "surprised" the victim when they woke him up.
He said: "If I wake you up… if I knock on your front door and, [makes banging noises] you're going to jump off the bed like, 'Who the hell is this?' You know? Why wouldn't you be safe while you wake him up and then [in the voice of the police say] 'Driver, exit the car!'"
KGO-TV reported that the victim was 21-years-old.
David Harrison, McCoy's cousin, told KGO-TV: "I am outraged. This community is outraged. He's not robbing Taco Bell. He is in the drive-thru trying to get something to eat!"
The officer-involved shooting is now being investigated in accordance with the Solano County Fatal Incident Protocol. Vallejo Police Department said that it is encouraging anyone who may have been a witness or who has additional information to contact Detective Scott Yates at (707) 648-4533 or Detective Craig Long at (707) 648-4514.
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