EspañolJason Maccani (Full Name: Jason Lee Maccani) Was Holding Plastic Fork Before Being Fatally Shot By Los Angeles Police Department Officers Near Skid Row
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (February 9, 2024) – A man identified as Jason Maccani has tragically died in a Los Angeles Police Department shooting along Towne Avenue near Skid Rowe.
Los Angeles County officials said that the incident began around 2:14 p.m. on February 3. Police said that they got a report about an “assault with a deadly weapon.”
The caller also said that the suspect may have been under the influence. Police officers arrived and entered a business on the fourth floor of a warehouse.
Officers encountered Jason Maccani and ordered him to put his hands up. Shortly after that encounter, officers used less-lethal measures.
Those measures proved to be ineffective. Police claimed that the suspect charged at them with something in his right hand before he was shot several times.
It turns out that the man was only holding a white plastic fork. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. But Jason Maccani was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
LAPD chief Michael Moore said that he had ‘concerns’ after seeing body camera footage of the fatal shooting. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Los Angeles Police Department Shootings
Far too many people are killed or seriously injured every year in police shootings. Many of these shootings can be prevented when the right policies and procedures are being followed. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, “Research suggests that organizational policies and training can safely reduce the use of deadly force. Similar training approaches have been used successfully by several LE agencies to increase use of de-escalation strategies in situations involving individuals with severe mental illness, owing to long-standing community concerns about use of force against this population.” When police are dealing with a potentially mentally ill suspect, they must take a number of measures.
- Request backup
- Calm the situation
- Avoid physical contact
- Determine if the suspect is taking medication
- Acknowledge the suspect’s feelings
- Not make any threats
Police officers must always use the least amount of force necessary to get suspects to comply with their demands. According to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of law, deprives someone of their rights afforded under the Constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. Officers have specific guidelines for when they must interact with mentally ill suspects. An officer’s “failure to follow a safety rule promulgated by his employer, regardless of its substance, serves as evidence of negligence.” See, for example, Grudt, 468 P.2d at 831 (citation omitted); see People v. Brown, 245 Cal. App. 4th 140, 171 (Ct. App. 2016). Several steps should be taken after any suspected instance of police misconduct.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be sought.
- Surveillance footage should be collected.
- The nature of the crime a suspect is being sought for should be known.
- An experienced civil rights attorney should be contacted.
It can be hard to know where to begin after any police shooting. To make matters worse, when the police investigate themselves they will inevitably find that they did nothing wrong. This is why it is so important that the actions of officers are reviewed by a competent third party. If you or someone that you care about has been harmed by the LAPD, a civil rights attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Los Angeles Police Department Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jason Maccani. This was a horrific tragedy and brutal killing of an unarmed man holding a plastic fork. It is our sincere hope that there is a thorough investigation into what happened. There are so many questions that remain unanswered.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles Police Department shooting? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here for you. We care deeply that victims of police brutality are aware of their rights and that the police are held to account for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
