EspañolLinda Moran (Full Name: Linda Becerra Moran) Died In Los Angeles Police Department Shooting After Reporting Being Kidnapped
PACOIMA, LOS ANGELES (March 9, 2025) – A transgender woman and possible victim of sex trafficking identified as Linda Moran has tragically died in a Pacoima LAPD shooting at a motel.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident began on February 7. Linda Moran told emergency operators that she had been kidnapped along the 1000 block of San Fernando Road.
Los Angeles Police Department officials arrived at the scene and began conversing with the victim in Spanish. Officers had their guns drawn and inexplicably shot her as she was slowly approaching them.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. She was transported to the hospital with critical injuries.
Sadly, Linda Moran died on February 27 after spending several weeks on life support. The incident has left her friends and advocates in Los Angeles County deeply concerned and angered.
The LAPD officer involved in the shooting was described as a four-year department veteran. A full investigation into the Pacoima LAPD shooting remains ongoing.
Liability for Los Angeles County Police Shootings
Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles have a long and sordid history of engaging in excessive force against people. In 2023, Los Angeles Police Department officials shot and killed a double amputee in a wheelchair in Huntington Park. A Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputy has also pled guilty to violently attacking a transgender man after he allegedly flipped him off. Police departments should take a number of actions in order to help prevent misconduct involving their officers.
- Police departments should establish and enforce clear use of force guidelines that involve de-escalation techniques and crisis intervention.
- Police departments should train officers to handle situations where a person may be in the midst of a mental health crisis.
- Police departments should be transparent and require that all of their officers wear body cameras during encounters.
- Police departments should require that their officers undergo psychological screenings to ensure that they are fit to serve.
Police departments have a legal obligation to use the least amount of force necessary for any given encounter. 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. When officers fail to properly assess a situation and use unnecessary force that results in a fatality, they could be found liable for violating the Fourth Amendment rights of the person who was killed. A municipal entity could also be held liable for the death of a suspect if it was due to training failures or a pattern of misconduct.
Consider, for example, Monell v. Department of Social Services (1978). The Supreme Court held that local government agencies can be sued for violations that were a result of their own policies and customs. A police agency may have failed to train their officers on de-escalation techniques. It is also possible that a police department harbored a culture of misconduct by failing to discipline previous excessive force incidents. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any fatal police shooting.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be sought.
- Medical records related to the shooting should be preserved.
- The phone call to 911 that prompted the encounter should be scrutinized.
- A thorough investigation by an outside agency should be conducted.
Police shootings are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where officers fail to properly assess what’s going on. It is also common for officers to fail to properly de-escalate encounters before they take a violent turn. Sadly, though, the Los Angeles Police Department has proved time and time again that they will do everything in their power to deny responsibility if they shoot and kill an innocent person. This is why it is so important that any police shooting involving the LAPD is thoroughly investigated by an experienced civil rights attorney.
Investigating Los Angeles Police Department Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Linda Moran. There needs to be a thorough investigation and accountability for this preventable tragedy. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The LAPD has a sacred duty to protect and serve. But in far too many situations, they have seriously injured or killed the very people who they’re supposed to be helping.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles Police Department shooting? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that victims of police brutality are aware of their rights and that police departments are held accountable for the unconstitutional actions of their officers. 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.
