Burris takes on Vallejo PD for executing rapper Willie McCoy and beating Marine veteran Adrian Burrell

Civil rights rally Thursday, Feb. 28, 2 p.m., in front of Vallejo City Hall, 555 Santa Clara St., Vallejo

Willie-McCoy, Burris takes on Vallejo PD for executing rapper Willie McCoy and beating Marine veteran Adrian Burrell, Local News & Views
Willie McCoy

by Lee Houskeeper

Vallejo, Calif. – Attorney John Burris and his law firm have been retained to represent the family of Willie McCoy, the 20-year-old African American man who was shot two dozen times by six Vallejo police officers after bystanders discovered Mr. McCoy asleep in his car in a Taco Bell drive-through.

Attorney Burris is also representing Mr. Adrian Burrell, the African American Marine veteran who was violently assaulted for videotaping a Vallejo police officer.

Attorney Burris is calling for a press conference and rally for families and individuals impacted by police violence by Vallejo police officers, including the families of Angel Ramos who was shot and killed in 2017, Ronnell Foster who was shot and killed in 2018 and all others concerned about police violence.

Attorney Burris is calling for a press conference and rally for families and individuals impacted by police violence by Vallejo police officers.

On the evening of Feb. 9, 2018, Mr. Willie McCoy fell asleep in the drive-thru at a Taco Bell restaurant. Police were summoned to the scene, surrounded Mr. McCoy’s car and shot him approximately 25 times after he was startled awake.

Burris contends that “the officers showed an egregious display of excessive and unwarranted force.” Burris explains that “shockingly, the officers did not even try to safely retrieve Mr. McCoy from the car through the open passenger window while he was asleep, after telling the public that Mr. McCoy’s car was locked.” Burris decries that “the actions of the officers who killed Mr. McCoy shown an egregious lack of concern for the preservation of human life.”

The second case being initiated against the Vallejo Police Department took place in the afternoon of Jan. 22, 2019, when Mr. Adrian Burrell was violently assaulted by Vallejo Police Officer Ryan McLaughlin, for videotaping the officer while standing on his own front porch.

Adrian Burrell was violently assaulted by Vallejo Police Officer Ryan McLaughlin, for videotaping the officer while standing on his own front porch.

Mr. Burrell suffered a concussion during the incident. Burris explains, “This officer has an extensive history of racial profiling and excessive force allegations.”

In addition to the violent assault of Mr. Burrell, Burris explains, “Officer McLaughlin was involved in a violent off-duty attack on a civilian back in August 2018.” Disturbingly, despite this violent and unwarranted off-duty incident, Officer McLaughlin was still on duty without any disciplinary action taken.

Both incidents with Officer McLaughlin were captured on cellphone video.

Burris expounds that, “these latest egregious incidents are just the newest in a very long line of excessive force and/or racial profiling by Vallejo police officers.” Burris further explains that he’s “very concerned about the lack of supervision, discipline, retraining and termination for officers who have clearly violated the law and the department’s own policies.”

Burris explains that he is “particularly appalled by the conduct of Vallejo PD because his office has represented more than 14 people who have been victimized by Vallejo PD in the past seven years, and it appears that none of the officers involved in those incidents were disciplined.”

Burris explains that he is “particularly appalled by the conduct of Vallejo PD because his office has represented more than 14 people who have been victimized by Vallejo PD in the past seven years, and it appears that none of the officers involved in those incidents were disciplined.”

In addition to his clients, Burris is “aware of more than three dozen individuals who have made allegations of racial profiling and/or excessive force against Vallejo PD officers, including the officer who attacked Adrian Burrell.”

And it has just been learned that Officer Ryan McMahon, one of the six executioners of Willie McCoy, shot Ronnell Foster, 32, a father of two, in the back a year ago, killing him, on Feb. 13, 2018. Foster is also a client of John Burris.

Burris will demand the City of Vallejo immediately release the body-worn camera footage from the Willie McCoy shooting and initiate an immediate change their use of force policies to make the preservation of human life a priority.

Contact Lee Houskeeper of San Francisco Stories at Newsservice@aol.com. Attorney John Burris can be reached at 7677 Oakport St., Suite 1120, Oakland, CA 94621, 510-839-5200. Bay View staff contributed to this story.