NAPA (KRON) — An off-duty Richmond police officer who was shot and killed inside his home in Vallejo early Thursday morning graduated from the same police academy as his accused killer.
According to Napa Valley College, the victim, 58-year-old Gus Vegas, graduated from the school’s police academy in 1990. The suspect, 30-year-old Robert Vegas, graduated from the same academy in 2011.
The shooting happened at around 4:30 a.m. near the Glen Cove area in the 30 block of Narragansett Court, according to police. A domestic dispute led to the murder of Vegas inside of his own home, police said.
Vegas was attempting to stop a fight involving one of his adult children when the shooting occurred. The suspect, Vega, is the father of Vegas’ 6-year-old grandson.
Napa Valley College issued the following statement on the shooting:
The students and staff at the Napa Valley College Criminal Justice Training Center are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Richmond Police Officer Gus Vegas. Officer Vegas graduated from Basic Academy Class #14 at Napa Valley College in 1990. He returned ten years later for refresher training. The suspect named in this case, Robert Vega, also graduated from the police academy in December 2011 as part of Basic Academy Class #83.
Domestic violence is always tragic and this event is the worst example of how violence in the family can impact so many lives. The death of Officer Vegas comes at a time when in just the last 8 days, six police officers from around the country have lost their lives to violence.
“The college is saddened by the loss of one of our former students,” said Dr. Ron Kraft, NVC President. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the Vegas family.”