EspañolSuspect With Knife Shot By LAPD Officer By Broadway and 7th Street
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 14, 2023) – A man has been injured in a downtown, Los Angeles police shooting not far from Broadway and 6th Street.
Los Angeles County police officials are saying that the incident took place around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. Police officers made contact with the man and attempted to gain his compliance.
The suspect continued to ignore the demands of officers and continued east on Broadway. During the confrontation, police officer shot the man with 40 mm foam rounds.
It was at this point that the suspect allegedly produced a knife before being shot by the LAPD. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the man.
He was taken to the hospital and listed in critical but stable condition. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Los Angeles Police Department Shootings
The LAPD has a very troublesome history with respect to how they have treated suspects over the years. According to the Los Angeles Times, “LAPD officers shot 27 people, killing seven, in all of 2020, and shot 26 people, killing 12, in 2019, The Times reported. Officers shot 33 people in 2018.” A large portion of the people injured in shootings with Los Angeles police officers were suffering from a mental illness when they were shot. There are a number of steps that officers must take if they encounter a suspect they believe may be mentally ill. These policies are outlined in California’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (“P.O.S.T.”). Officers must:
- Request backup
- Calm the situation
- Avoid physical contact
- Determine if the suspect is taking medication
- Acknowledge the suspect’s feelings
- Not make any threats
A police department could be held liable for a police shooting if officers failed to follow procedures with respect to handling mentally ill suspects. See, for example, Tabares v. City of Huntington Beach (9th Cir., Feb. 17, 2021, No. 19-56035) 2021 WL 609854. A Huntington Beach police officer followed Dillan Tabares who was suffering from a mental illness. The officer continued to pursue the suspect even though he had reason to believe that he was mentally ill. After a brief altercation, the Huntington Beach officer shot Dillan Tabares who died due to his injuries. The city eventually settled with the man’s family. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any police shooting.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be reviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- The pre-shooting decisions of all officers involved should be understood.
A large portion of the police shootings that take place are preventable. They tend to involve officers that are inexperienced. This is why it is so important that officers are properly trained and re-trained each year. Any person that is injured in a police shooting may have legal recourse through a constitutional claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Getting Legal Help After Los Angeles Police Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to the man injured in this downtown police shooting. It is our sincere hope that he is able to make a full recovery. There are so many questions that still need to be answered about what happened.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Los Angeles police shooting? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims of excessive force get the support and justice that they are entitled to. Whether you just have legal questions or are thinking about hiring an attorney we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
