EspañolKnife-Wielding Suspect Injured In Highland Park After Being Shot By Los Angeles Police Department
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (August 27, 2023) – A suspect allegedly holding a knife in the Highland Park area was shot by Los Angeles Police Department officials after brief standoff.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place around 12:52 p.m. on Saturday. Officers got a report about someone claiming that they were armed with a gun.
When officers arrived they encountered a suspect in a stairwell armed with a knife. Not long after officers arrived, they opened fire and shot the suspect.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the male suspect. He was taken to the hospital with stable vital signs. The streets near York Boulevard and Avenue 56 were closed for several hours as the LAPD investigated.
Liability For Los Angeles Police Department Shootings
Far too many people are killed or seriously injured every year in shootings involving LAPD officers. 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 disproportionate number of the victims were suffering from a mental illness when they were shot. In fact, it has been estimated that people with untreated mental illness were nearly 16 times more likely to be killed in police encounters than the general public. There are a number of other factors that could contribute to a police shooting.
- The amount of training that police officers receive greatly impacts the likelihood that they will use deadly force. Among other things, officers should know how to effectively de-escalate encounters with suspects.
- In areas with high levels of community engagement and trust with law enforcement, officers may be more inclined to use less-lethal tactics.
- Police shootings are more likely to occur at night when suspects are less visible.
The ability to use lethal force is one of the most consequential powers that police officers have. Police officers must always refrain from using excessive force. When a police officer uses excessive force and injures a suspect, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. 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. There are numerous ways that an officer may have used excessive force.
- A police officer may have shot a suspect complying with their demands.
- A police officer may have hit a suspect who was already restrained.
- A police officer may have shot a suspect that did not pose an immediate threat to officers or the public.
In California, whether or not an officers use-of-force is considered excessive will depend on the totality of the circumstances leading up to the incident. Many police shootings are completely unnecessary. They are much more likely to occur when officers are not properly trained. This is particularly true when police officers are dealing with suspects in the midst of a mental health crisis. Any person that is injured by the actions of the LAPD may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Getting Legal Help After LAPD Shootings
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to the person injured in this Highland Park shooting. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The LAPD should do the right thing and be transparent about what took place.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured due to the excessive force of the LAPD in Highland Park? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We focus on helping people who have been harmed by police abuses of power. 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.
