Ronnell Foster

The Washington Post's Fatal Force database records Ronnell Foster in a fatal on-duty police shooting on 2018-02-13 in Vallejo, CA. Individual circumstances and legal outcome require case-specific review.

What happened

Ronell Foster, 33, a father of two, was killed by Vallejo police Officer Ryan McMahon on February 13, 2018, after McMahon sought to stop him for riding a bicycle without a working light. Foster rode away, fell from the bike and fled on foot. McMahon chased him, and police initially said Foster grabbed the officer's flashlight and threatened him. Foster's family alleged the officer shot him in the back while he tried to escape, and challenged whether a bicycle-light violation justified the escalating pursuit. Video evidence and officer depositions later figured in the family's federal civil-rights suit. Although the department cleared McMahon in its internal review, Vallejo ultimately paid Foster's family approximately $5.7 million to settle litigation. The city later faced wider scrutiny over delayed investigations and repeated shootings involving some officers. The family's allegations and the department's justification account remain legally distinct from the negotiated settlement.

Investigation & findings

Individual legal and investigative outcome not yet reviewed.

What happened

Investigation & findings

Sources & records