Two Vallejo police officers involved in fatal shooting identified

Vallejo police say two officers who took part in a deadly July 20 shooting have been identified.

Officers Sergeant Matthew Komoda and Officer Himanshu Saini were involved in the shooting, which resulted in the death of suspect Rommel Delfin Querol.

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Komoda and Saini were placed on administrative leave after the shooting. Investigators recovered an assault rifle used during the incident, which was equipped with a high-capacity magazine.

Komoda has served as a peace officer for 20 years, including the past 12 years with the Vallejo Police Department. Saini has served as a peace officer for four years, all with the Vallejo Police Department. At the time of the incident, both Komoda and Saini were assigned to the Patrol Division.

Komoda was involved in the recently released badge-bending report. Sonoma County Sheriff Robert Giordano found that Kent Tribble (retired) bent the badge tips of Komoda and David McLaughlin in 2016. Komoda testified in 2022 regarding his role in the badge-bending ritual, saying his badge tip had been bent following an on-duty shooting by Tribble, although he claimed he was a reluctant participant and bent it back.

The July 20 shooting came after a reported armed carjacking in the 400 block of Ryder Street at approximately 12:19 p.m. About an hour later, Komoda and Saini located the victim’s vehicle near Mahogany Drive and Broadway Street. Querjol died at the scene of a felony traffic stop, which left Komoda and Saini unharmed.

Querol, 44, was arrested in January 2012 at the age of 30 as a suspect in the fatal 2011 shooting of Michael Webster, 30, who was found shot in the 200 block of Stutz Alley in Vallejo. Querol was later sentenced by Judge Tim Kam to 16 years in prison. Under the deal, Querol was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and personal use of a firearm. He was initially charged with murder.

The Solano County Major Crimes Task Force is conducting the criminal investigation of the July 20 shooting, and the City of Vallejo has retained an independent investigator to conduct the administrative investigation. Following this incident, the Vallejo Police Department’s Critical Incident Review Board process was initiated.

A town hall meeting is scheduled for Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Griffin Academy Middle High Schools, 233 Hobbs Ave., to provide information regarding the incident, explain the investigative and review processes that follow an officer-involved shooting, and answer questions from the community.

“Due to the ongoing investigations, some investigative details may not be available at the time of the Town Hall,” the City of Vallejo said in a Friday morning news release. “The meeting will focus on the currently known facts, the investigative process, and the Vallejo Police Department’s review procedures.”