Napa pays $1M settlement after man shot to death by police during domestic call

(KRON) — The parents of a man who was shot to death by a Napa Police Department sergeant in October 2021 will receive $1 million in a settlement from the City of Napa, officials announced Thursday. Police said 26-year-old Jeremy Vellenoweth was pointing a shotgun at his father in a domestic dispute before aiming at officers and being killed.

Following the fatal police shooting on October 6, 2021, his parents filed a federal civil rights lawsuit. At the time, the family’s attorney, Dan Russo, disputed the facts given by the police department. Russo alleged that Vellenoweth was suffering from a “nervous breakdown, a mental health crisis,” and that he “was not threatening anyone.”

Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced in February 2023 that there would be no criminal charges filed in the incident. The City of Napa continued to deny liability for Vellenoweth’s death while announcing the $1 million settlement reached on April 17, 2025.

“We regret Mr. Vellenoweth’s death,” said City Manager Steve Potter in a statement. “The City believes that the Sergeant did the right thing in life-threatening circumstances. It also believes that the best resolution of this litigation was this difficult settlement, which satisfies no one, but which allows the Department and community to avoid disruptive litigation stretching far into the future. We wish the best for Mr. Vellenoweth’s family.”

On the afternoon of October 6, 2021, Napa police were dispatched to a home on the 1600 block of Pear Tree Lane after 911 callers reported a domestic disturbance. One of the calls came from Vellenoweth’s father, who told dispatchers that his son wanted to commit “suicide by cop.”

Arriving officers heard Vellenoweth fire one shot as they approached the residence. Prior to the sergeant shooting Vellenoweth, authorities said Vellenoweth was seen “on the driveway with his shotgun raised at chest level” and pointing it at officers.

“In an effort to protect those being threatened by Vellenoweth, the sergeant fired his service weapon, striking Vellenoweth, causing him to drop the shotgun,” NPD said.

After gunshots rang out, Vellenoweth’s mother could be heard screaming in officer-worn body camera video (WARNING: Video contains sensitive content).

Nearby paramedics could not reach Vellenoweth for more than 7 minutes, “as the father was uncooperative and would not step away from his son and the nearby shotgun,” according to investigators.

Vellenoweth was transported to an area hospital, where he died from multiple gunshot wounds.