Representing the Vallejo Sun, FAC filed this lawsuit against the City of Vallejo for its refusal to release all video footage of the police shooting of Alexander Schumann.
As the Sun reported, Vallejo police officers responded to 911 calls about Schumann, who was in apparent mental distress at an apartment complex, breaking car windows and saying he wanted to be shot. When two officers arrived at the complex, they saw Schumann sitting in a vehicle with his hands in his pockets. After the officers told him to remove his hands, Schumann stepped out of the vehicle, walked toward the officers, and pointed an object at them that appeared to be a firearm. As he turned away and raised his hands while holding the object, the officers opened fire on Schumann and hit him in the upper and lower body.
Schumann survived, but he was wounded in the back, hip, and foot and is currently facing criminal charges. The Vallejo police department held a town hall on September 11, 2025, at which it showed selected body camera and dash camera footage of the incident, but it did not show all footage from all officers or vehicles on the scene. The selected footage also blurred the faces of officers on the scene. At the town hall, Schumann’s father questioned whether police had done enough to de-escalate the situation before shooting his son.
Citing A.B. 748, which governs release of recordings that depict police shootings, the Sun requested “any video” of the incident. The City denied the request, refusing to release any footage except the selected and redacted portions shown at the town hall. The City contends it can withhold the complete footage due to a provision of S.B. 1421 that allows delayed disclosure of police shooting records until criminal charges arising from the incident are resolved.
However, as our case argues, the Sun’s request was made under A.B. 748, which specifically governs police recordings and does not allow agencies to withhold recordings merely because a criminal case is pending. A.B. 748 should also not be construed to allow agencies to blur the faces of officers.
The case was brought against the City of Vallejo in Solano County Superior Court.
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