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Napan's husband shot by off-duty LA police officer
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CommentA Napa woman is mourning the death of her husband, Robert Day, 50, who was shot to death by an off-duty Los Angeles police officer on Aug. 25, at a convenience store near the Southern California town of Corona.
According to LAPD, Los Angeles Police Officer Antonio Mendez, who was driving his Hummer north on Interstate 5 with his 13-month-old son in the back seat, was sideswiped by a Toyota pickup, driven by Day, according to a Riverside County Sheriff’s press release.
According to LAPD, Los Angeles Police Officer Antonio Mendez, who was driving his Hummer north on Interstate 5 with his 13-month-old son in the back seat, was sideswiped by a Toyota pickup, driven by Day, according to a Riverside County Sheriff’s press release.
Details of the accident were not available.
According to press reports, the collision resulted in a high speed chase between Day’s Toyota and the officer’s Hummer. The vehicles left the freeway, stopped and parked outside a deli. The drivers got out of their vehicles and exchanged words. While trying to detain Day, the off-duty officer fired his weapon once, hitting Day in the upper body, the press release said.
According to press reports, the collision resulted in a high speed chase between Day’s Toyota and the officer’s Hummer. The vehicles left the freeway, stopped and parked outside a deli. The drivers got out of their vehicles and exchanged words. While trying to detain Day, the off-duty officer fired his weapon once, hitting Day in the upper body, the press release said.
The only weapon found was Mendez’s firearm.
In an interview with the Register on Friday, Day’s wife, Jennifer Day , said “A Napa police officer came to my house on Sunday night and told me I was not in any trouble. He told me Robert had been killed in an accident. I have no idea why he (Robert) was in Riverside County.”
In an interview with the Register on Friday, Day’s wife, Jennifer Day , said “A Napa police officer came to my house on Sunday night and told me I was not in any trouble. He told me Robert had been killed in an accident. I have no idea why he (Robert) was in Riverside County.”
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the incident as a hit and run followed by an officer involved shooting, according to a sheriff’s press release.
Mendez was placed on administrative leave immediately following the fatal shooting.
Day and his wife Jennifer have a 10-month-old daughter Hayle.
“We had not been living together but we were trying to work things out,” she said. “Robert had troubles (with the law) in Napa County in the past, but he had really changed since he became a father. He was great with our daughter.”
Day said her husband, who worked in construction while living in Napa, had gone to Orange County to be with friends who she believed could give him the support he needed to turn his life around.
Day said her husband left Napa in July.
“He is going to be cremated in Riverside and his ashes will be sent home to Napa for burial,” Jennifer said. “It’s been really a tough time for me. There are so many questions that have not been answered ... and there is our baby, how will I ever explain this to her?”
Mendez was placed on administrative leave immediately following the fatal shooting.
Day and his wife Jennifer have a 10-month-old daughter Hayle.
“We had not been living together but we were trying to work things out,” she said. “Robert had troubles (with the law) in Napa County in the past, but he had really changed since he became a father. He was great with our daughter.”
Day said her husband, who worked in construction while living in Napa, had gone to Orange County to be with friends who she believed could give him the support he needed to turn his life around.
Day said her husband left Napa in July.
“He is going to be cremated in Riverside and his ashes will be sent home to Napa for burial,” Jennifer said. “It’s been really a tough time for me. There are so many questions that have not been answered ... and there is our baby, how will I ever explain this to her?”
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mofosheee wrote on Aug 30, 2008 6:13 AM:
Thugs with a gun and a badge "
calisa wrote on Aug 30, 2008 7:24 AM:
Maya wrote on Aug 30, 2008 7:32 AM:
tribal1 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 7:36 AM:
MarshaMarsha wrote on Aug 30, 2008 8:16 AM:
What disgusts me is that this would usually be a "his word against my word" situation, but since officer Mendez has murdered the only other true witness he gets to make up whatever story he feels will justify his actions.
It's possible that this "high speed chase" was actually Robert Day running for his life from a road rager with a gun. Lots of possibilities, but no telling what really happened. "
napa wine guy wrote on Aug 30, 2008 8:46 AM:
TWO YEARS!!!!!! "
14obama wrote on Aug 30, 2008 8:50 AM:
Strange world we live in ! "
B-Side wrote on Aug 30, 2008 9:01 AM:
Dwayne wrote on Aug 30, 2008 9:03 AM:
The typical 'internal investigation' will find the shooting justified.
mofosheee had it right.... "
truth wrote on Aug 30, 2008 9:26 AM:
Give your mouths a rest people. You have absulutely zero idea what really happened, and no right to denounce the officer. "
musikluvr wrote on Aug 30, 2008 9:55 AM:
NUHS67 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 12:13 PM:
someguyinnapa wrote on Aug 30, 2008 12:14 PM:
people do!
mendez... what a chump! "
NUHS67 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 1:12 PM:
VJ07 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 1:36 PM:
tribal1 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 1:36 PM:
Musikluvr: What are you talking about? "
VJ07 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 1:43 PM:
Dwayne wrote on Aug 30, 2008 1:56 PM:
" And here come the cop-bashers...again.
Give your mouths a rest people. You have absulutely zero idea what really happened, and no right to denounce the officer. "
Yes of course, and shooting an unarmed man did society a great favor.....
You pro-cop people want to use deadly force if someone sticks their tongue out... That's just insane.... "
VJ07 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 2:19 PM:
VJ07 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 2:31 PM:
db76 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 3:46 PM:
MarkMiwords wrote on Aug 30, 2008 5:05 PM:
db76 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 5:56 PM:
ADark1 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 6:09 PM:
" Classic road rage, but this time it was a cop who was in a rage.
The typical 'internal investigation' will find the shooting justified.
mofosheee had it right.... "
Dwayne you're scaring me we actually agree!
db76 wrote on Aug 30, 2008 5:56 PM:
" Sounds like more of a case of hit and run followed by self-defense. " Uhmmmm WHAT? Lets see 1 guy had a gun the other one didn't...Guess someone didn't get a throwaway piece so he could use the self defense angle...But, as usual, I'll wait till I see ALL the facts...no doubt they will once again side with the officer! "
elb wrote on Aug 30, 2008 10:19 PM:
I mean that is what the rest of us "untrained" folk do and we eventually receive restitution for repairs, (Unless the person at fault is lacking insurance, of course).
Why did this cop have to resort to gunfire? He better have a darned good reason, darned good! "
Winewoman wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:09 AM:
villa wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:28 PM:
XMAN wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:06 AM:
Much sorrow for her loss. "
barefoot wrote on Sep 11, 2008 5:53 PM:
s-wang wrote on Nov 24, 2008 3:55 PM: