A man who attempted to kill a Benicia police officer and killed a man in Vallejo was given a sentence of 146 years to life in state prison, the Benicia Police Department announced Monday.
David Magana killed a man who was found dead in Vallejo in March 2024. He had also been arrested that month for the attempted murder of a Benicia officer.
Magana was sentenced on Friday for murder in the second degree, attempted murder of a police officer, armed robbery, shooting at a vehicle, felony evading of an officer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to Benicia police, on March 15, 2024, officers were fired on during a traffic stop of a car associated with an armed robbery.
The interaction required the closure of Interstate Highway 780 in both directions after Magana crashed the vehicle at the bottom of the Military West off ramp and then ran toward the center of the freeway while firing multiple additional shots at officers. Ultimately, Magana, who was hiding in the median, was captured and the firearm was located, buried under the brush.
Police said that not only had Magana committed an armed robbery nine days earlier, but he had also murdered the Vallejo man five days earlier.
“The extent of Magana’s crimes extended to multiple cities in the Bay Area,” said Benicia police. “In fact, eight different agencies were involved in providing testimony at the trial.”
