EspañolLAPD Killed Man Allegedly Holding Knife In Police Shooting At Apartment Complex Near Skid Row
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (July 21, 2023) – Los Angeles Police Department officials shot and killed a man allegedly holding a knife at an apartment complex on East 7th Street.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. LAPD officials were called to the scene of a downtown apartment complex near skid row.
They received a report about someone being threatened with a knife. Police officers encountered a man in his 50s. An unknown number of LAPD officers shot the suspect.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the suspect. He was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
A full investigation into the shooting 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 department shootings. According to Statista, “Sadly, the trend of fatal police shootings in the United States seems to only be increasing, with a total 529 civilians having been shot, 70 of whom were Black, as of July 13, 2023. In 2022, there were 1,097 fatal police shootings.” There are many steps that police department should take in order to reduce the likelihood of police shootings.
- Police officers should be well trained to identify when suspects are in the midst of a mental health crisis.
- Police officers should know how to de-escalate dangerous encounters.
- Police officers should typically wait for backup when dealing with potentially dangerous suspects.
- Police officers should have access to less-lethal alternatives to their firearm such as tasers.
Lethal force should only be used as a measure of last resort. Pursuant to California AB 392, an officer should only use lethal force when “the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that deadly force is necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or to another person.” When LAPD officers use excessive force and kill a suspect, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are a number of situations when police officers should definitely not use lethal force.
- Police officers should not use force on suspects who are restrained.
- Police officers should not shoot suspects who are attempting to flee.
- Police officers should typically not shoot suspects who are unarmed.
It can be hard to know where to begin after any police shooting. To make matters worse, the LAPD is hardly ever completely transparent about police shootings. The family of any person that died in a police shooting may have legal recourse through a constitutional claim. It is important that all evidence is preserved after any police shooting. A civil rights attorney can examine all of 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 the man that died in this LAPD shooting. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough review of what happened for the sake of this suspect’s family.
Do you need more information about an LAPD shooting? Our team of civil rights lawyers are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims of excessive force are aware of their rights and that the LAPD is held to account for their actions. 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.
