As reported by dozens of news sites, including the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the family of a man shot at 120 times by eight Los Angeles Police Department officers on a freeway, has filed a $120 million lawsuit, in their quest to make every bullet shot at their son count.
The suit claims that A.A., 19, was "brutally and unlawfully shot to death" by officers following a traffic stop and subsequent chase on March 14. Attorney Jeffrey M. Galen, representing A.A.'s parents, said, "It is my hope that Chief Beck and the Los Angeles Police Department will come to the realization that improper use of force is too often overlooked in our community."
The lawsuit was filed while approximately 100 people held a protest just outside of the LAPD Devonshire Station.
After A.A. sped away from officers at a traffic stop in Northridge he entered the 101 Ventura Freeway. Just before 10 p.m. A.A. left his vehicle on the freeway and attempted to flee on foot. Officers, that thought A.A. appeared to be making a gesture toward an object, opened fire.
Only A.A.'s cellular phone was located at the scene – there was no gun found.
The family has claimed that a 911 dispatcher heard A.A. plead for officers not to open fire. The LAPD, however, claim that A.A. told the dispatcher that he had a gun and he would use it if he needed to.
The exact number of bullets shot at A.A. has not yet been released by the LAPD – but some of the media have tallied the number to be between 90 and 150. A spokesperson for the family put the number of bullets that hit A.A. at between eight and 10. And one of those bullets hit A.A. in the head.
The autopsy report is not yet completed but is expected within the week.
Officials from the LAPD declined to comment on the lawsuit.
LAPD Officer Karen Rayner, in regards to the LAPD investigation, said, "Every detail will be scrutinized at multiple levels of review."
Tyler Izen, the president of the LAPD Protective League, has stated that it was A.A.'s actions that prompted the officer's response – fleeing police, telling 911 he had a gun and pointing it in an "aggressive shooting stance."
Izen wrote in a statement: "It is unfortunate that our society has come to the place where a lawful command from an officer goes ignored. Oftentimes, this sets into motion a regrettable series of events, as in this case."
One of the signs held up during the demonstration at the police station showed pictures of a cellular phone and a gun with words below that asked, "Can you tell the difference?"
Another demonstrator, a family friend, said, "He didn't deserve to die, he deserved to live. They should have used non-lethal rounds to subdue him."
The correct attorney to file a wrongful death lawsuit is a personal injury lawyer. Use our directory to contact a personal injury lawyer and begin working on your case right away!