EspañolCarlos Lara Jr Killed In Security Guard Shooting At Los Angeles Home Depot Parking Lot
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (February 13, 2024) – A man identified as Carlos Lara Jr has tragically died after being shot by a security guard at a Los Angeles Home Depot on Slauson Avenue.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the shooting took place around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. A male suspect identified as Carlos Lara Jr allegedly was involved in an altercation with another person.
Sometime after that incident, he reportedly tried to leave the scene in his vehicle. However, he was shot by a security guard inside the parking lot.
It remains unclear if the security guard worked for the Home Depot or another store. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim.
Despite life-saving measures, Carlos Lara Jr later died due to his injuries. Family members described the victim as a father and electrician.
They have questioned the actions of the security guard and said that he should have worked to de-escalate the situation. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
A GoFundMe was created in order to help the victim’s family.
Liability For Los Angeles Security Guard Shootings
The private security industry has seen a large boom in recent decades. But unlike police departments, security companies are not particularly well regulated and in many situations their officers are untrained or poorly trained. According to Time Magazine, “Twenty-one states don’t require any amount of training for unarmed security officers; according to the National Association of Security Companies. Even in states with requirements, enforcement is difficult because there are so many guards spread out across so many locations and states lack staffing to enforce the rules.” There are a number of concerns that come with hiring private security officers.
- Private security companies are typically not subject to the same level of oversight and accountability as public law enforcement. This can lead to abuses of power, misconduct and inadequate training.
- Private security guards are often not trained in how to de-escalate tense encounters.
- There have been numerous instances where private security guards have used excessive force.
- Private security guards are paid to prioritize the interests of their clients. This may lead them to make decisions that prioritize profit over the safety of the public.
A private security company may be liable for the wrongful actions of their employees. Companies are typically liable for the tortious acts of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. At no point is a security guard allowed to use excessive force. Security companies can also be liable for failing to follow industry regulations. Under the California and Business Professions Code, security companies must provide their security guards with a minimum of 32 hours of training within the first 6 months of their employment. There are a number of ways that a security guard may have acted improperly.
- A security guard may have placed a suspect in an illegal chokehold.
- A security guard may have hit or beat a suspect who was already restrained.
- A security guard may have shot a suspect merely because they were attempting to flee.
- A security guard may have failed to de-escalate an encounter.
Security guards are mainly supposed to act as a deterrent to crime. But in far too many situations, overly zealous guards will needlessly injure suspects. It is important that victims of this criminal behavior understand that they do have rights. The family of any person that is killed by a security guard may be able to seek some level of accountability through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know if a security company broke the law.
Investigating Los Angeles Security Guard Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our deepest condolences to the family of Carlos Lara Jr. Any person that may have more information about this tragedy should reach out to investigators. What happened is completely unacceptable and should have never taken place. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim’s family.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County security guard shooting? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We focus on helping people who have been injured by law enforcement and security guard abuses of power. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
