EspañolPolice Say Man Fatally Shot by Officers Inside The Coach’s Sports Bar and Grill Never Fired His Gun
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA (November 1, 2026) – A man was killed in a police shooting at The Coach’s Sports Bar and Grill in Hawthorne.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the shooting occurred around 8:35 PM on Friday evening. Officers were called to the bar along the 13700 block of S. Inglewood Avenue after getting reports of a person who may have a firearm.
Hawthorne police said that they encountered a man who was allegedly armed and who matched the description of the person they received the call about. That person was shot multiple times by officers.
However, officers said that he never fired a shot at them. Paramedics were called to the scene of the incident to help the injured man. Unfortunately, he died due to the severity of his injuries.
A full investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Hawthorne Police Shootings
Police officers in California have a legal obligation to limit their use of lethal force to situations where it is absolutely necessary. Under Penal Code section 835a, “the authority to use physical force, conferred on peace officers by this section, is a serious responsibility that shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of every human life. The Legislature further finds and declares that every person has a right to be free from excessive use of force by officers acting under color of law.” Courts take into consideration several factors when evaluating whether or not any police shooting was objectively reasonable.
- Imminent Threat: Deadly force must be used as a response to a real and imminent threat of death or serious injury, not simply the presence of any weapon.
- Police Tactics: It is also important to consider the tactics that officers used prior to any shooting. Rushing into an encounter can create needless risks, both for officers and everyone else.
- De-Escalation: Another important consideration is whether officers attempted to follow police protocol and de-escalate the encounter.
- Medical Aid: Courts will also take into consideration whether officers quickly summoned medical aid to assist the person who was shot by police.
California courts have made it clear over and over again that police shootings are judged by the moments and minutes leading up to the encounter, not simply the incident itself. Even if one police shooting looked justifiable in the moment, it may not have been if officers failed to follow established police protocol for similar situations. When a department uses excessive force and kills a suspect, it could be held legally responsible through a constitutional claim under 42 U.S. Code § 1983.
Evidence and Transparency After Police Shootings
Police shootings in California remain a major concern and cause of many serious injuries and deaths each year. According to the California Department of Justice, 633 civilians were involved in police shootings across the state in 2025 alone. These incidents resulted in 127 fatalities. A large portion of fatal police shootings in California involves a person who is in the midst of a serious mental health crisis. It is important that certain pieces of evidence are preserved after any police shooting in California.
- Body Cameras: Police officers are required to wear body cameras. That footage can help clarify what actually took place in the moments leading up to the deadly encounter.
- Dispatch Records: The dispatch records for all of the officers that responded to the scene also provide important context about what officers knew before arriving.
- Public Records: Under state law in California, many records of serious police uses of force are subject to public scrutiny.
- Surveillance Video: It is also relatively common for police shootings to be captured by private video surveillance from bystanders or local businesses. This evidence can be lost over time if it is not sought quickly.
Transparency is an important aspect of seeking accountability after any fatal police shooting. Unfortunately, police departments are often not willing to be transparent about what happened. When these departments investigate themselves, they inevitably come to the conclusion that they didn’t do anything wrong. This is why it is so important that these incidents are thoroughly investigated by an outside party. The family of any person killed in a police shooting is able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Police Shootings in Hawthorne
We at Carrillo Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man killed at The Coach’s Sports Bar and Grill in Hawthorne. We hope that a full and transparent review brings accountability and leads to changes that prevent similar tragedies. The shooting raises serious questions about how law enforcement handles these types of encounters in crowded places where the risk to the public is great.
Have you or a loved one been the subject of excessive police force in Los Angeles County? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of experienced civil rights advocates is here to help you. We care deeply that the victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after a deadly police encounter, we are here to support you. You can contact us anytime at 626-799-9375.
