Assault suspect dies after officer-involved shooting in Napa

NAPA, Calif. (KGO) -- A man was shot and killed overnight by a Napa police officer after a chase and a struggle, according to Napa police.

Police got a call just before 2 a.m. about an assault at The Kentwood Apartments on Soscol Avenue. The caller said the man had a gun. Authorities later found him riding his skateboard on Soscol Avenue and ended up chasing him. Police say they then got into a fight and an officer used his rifle and shot the man. The suspect died and the officer suffered minor injuries.

Police have identified the suspect as David Alejandro Molina, 27, of Napa.

A woman who lives in the Vineyard Terrace Apartments heard the shooting. She did not want to be identified.

"I happened to be awake, so I heard the gunshots very clearly. It was about 2 a.m. and that was it. Everything went quiet and then I heard sirens and thought ok I don't have to call the police someone already did. And then at 5:30 a.m. they went banging on everybody's door to ask all the questions," she said.

Another resident, Dana Chris, said it was very scary to have this happen near her home.

The police chief said the coroner isn't ready to release the man's identity yet but the chief said he is probably in his 20s. He said the police department has had dealings with him before.

The chief said it is too early to tell if this was a justified police shooting.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Napa police said their thoughts are with the man's family, their officers and the community.