LA mayor demands change in police shooting rules after teen dies

AP ^ | 2/8/5 | PAUL CHAVEZ

[SmithL]

Los Angeles -- Mayor James Hahn on Tuesday said he was angry and frustrated over the fatal police shooting of a 13-year-old black youth at the end of a stolen-car chase and he urged an immediate revision of Police Department policy to limit when officers can shoot at moving vehicles.

Hahn said he wanted a "swift, thorough, transparent" investigation into the killing of Devin Brown, who was shot early Sunday when he reportedly backed a stolen car into a police car after a short pursuit.

The killing angered residents and community leaders in South Los Angeles where the shooting occurred. A large group of people demonstrated at the scene Tuesday evening, holding hands in an intersection.

"I am joining in the anger and the frustration, and I stand here with great concern over this latest use of force," the mayor said earlier at a news conference.

About 200 people attended a Tuesday night rally at a church just blocks from the shooting. Nearly two dozen angry speakers denounced the police department and urged the community to find solutions to both gang violence and police brutality.

Rev. James Lawson, chief executive of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said he was considering holding the group's next conference in Los Angeles, but told the audience his organization would boycott coming here until there was "justice."

The killing was denounced by community leaders during a meeting of the Los Angeles Police Commission, the panel that serves as the Police Department's civilian overseers.

[Horatio Gates]

No doubt. I'm not clear on when this happened but if this is an ongoing investigation, Bratton doesn't need to be condemning his officer for the press.

[phoenix0468]

I practiced nothing but head shots as a cheap form of life insurance for myself and my family.

Yes, much cheaper than a long hospital stay or a funeral, God forbid. Thank you for your service to your community.

[opinionator]

How do you know that the kid attempted to run over the cop? Because the cop said so. Case closed?

[phoenix0468]

I lived in Riveredge, NJ when the boy was shot in Teaneck. I actually worked about four blocks from the park where he was shot. The local residents didn't wait for any investigation before they rioted through town and overturned cars, setting them on fire as they passed. It later was found, through a confession of another boy who was with the "victim" that what the officer initially said was correct. The boy, after being told to stay where he was, bolted. While running away, the officer shouted a warning. The boy turned around, removing something from his jeans and pointed it at the officer. The officer then fired in self defense. Of course, I don't see anyone ever riot when a police officer gets shot or killed by a kid. Maybe we should do that next time it happens (sarcasm).

[phoenix0468]

Ok, who do we believe. The law abiding and protecting Police Officer or a car thief (and his neighborhood accomplices)? I vote police officer.

[Horatio Gates]

How do you know that the kid attempted to run over the cop?

It doesn't matter. If the officer reasonably thought that he was in imminent danger of death or serious injury, deadly force is appropriate.

[kcvl]

Police said Devin Brown was suspected of stealing a car and led police on a 3.5-mile chase. An officer reportedly fired 10 shots into the car when the Devon backed the vehicle into a patrol cruiser at the end of the brief chase.

Now, a makeshift memorial has been set up at the site where Devon, an 8th-grader at a magnet school for gifted children, was shot and killed. Police initially said Brown was a gang member but later said they could not confirm that.

The shooting sparked outrage among some community groups, and a prayer vigil and community meeting about Brown's death was called for Tuesday night.

Signs criticizing the police have gone up at an impromptu memorial at the scene of the shooting in South Los Angeles. One said, "You are a cancer to the community."

It was reported that the boy's father had died last year, and his mother had recently asked an older neighbor to help get the boy back on track.

"Oh yeah, it's sad," resident Cleo Pierce said. "It hurts me, too. I knew something (was) going to happen. When they start ... fooling around with gangs, I knew something had to happen to him."

Two officers involved in the shooting have been assigned to desk duty. Their union said officers have to make split-second decisions and any delay could cost them their lives.

Police said the driver ignored orders to surrender and backed the car into a police cruiser.

"Officers were giving the driver commands over and over again, but he ignored them," Sandoval said.

The driver put the car into reverse and struck a patrol car, she said, prompting the shooting.

A 14-year-old boy who was also in the car tried to run away but was caught, Sandoval said. His name was not released.

[w6ai5q37b]

About 200 people attended a Tuesday night rally at a church just blocks from the shooting. Nearly two dozen angry speakers denounced the police department and urged the community to find solutions to both gang violence and police brutality.

These are the same people who complain that there is too much crime in their neighborhood and that the police aren't doing anything about it.

[Triggerhippie]

I'm not sure that it's blind support for police officers so much as it seems to be blind denunciation of criminals.

When you look at it THAT way, people's reactions to a story like this make a whole lot more sense.

BTW, here in FL, that 13 year old should have been charged, had he survived, with Attempted Felony Murder aggravated by the intended victim's status as a Law Enforcement Officer.

[MinorityRepublican]

There are 100,000 gang members in LA county alone.

[cyborg]

Another case I'll be stuffing into my car thief's court document envelope for further reasosn to send him to bootcamp.

[lunarbicep]

tell that to the mayor

[Delta 21]

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

[BenLurkin]

No thanks. In twenty years time South Central would resemble Haiti.

Sorry, but its way too close to home.

[cyborg]

No just nuke most all democrat lawmakers. Why destroy valuable land?

[cyborg]

She was an unofficial ambassador to Haiti. So what does that tell you? Maxine is just overseer to her vast plantation. Whatever would she and these mailorder rev'runs do if boys were in bed sleeping resting up for a day at school and not out and about at 4 am? Whatever :yawn:

[Chad Fairbanks]

About 200 people attended a Tuesday night rally at a church just blocks from the shooting. Nearly two dozen angry speakers denounced the police department and urged the community to find solutions to both gang violence and police brutality.

I bet if these 200 people started the ball rolling in their own homes FIRST, then maybe "the community" wouldn't have to do nearly as much...

(They ain't real big in the concept that they are part of "the community", I'm guessing...)

[PeanutbutterandJellybean]

Hahn and Bratton are verbally fanning the flames to the news media, which in turn could end up inciting a riot. Keep increasing those tensions and rerun of the South Central Los Angeles riots isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

[newwahoo]

"There seems to be a lot of 'blind' support for police officers here at FP. Do they ever make mistakes? How about waiting for more of the facts to come out before deciding who is at fault?"

You've been here long enough to know that there far more "blind" support here for any report that accuses police officers of wrongdoing. I'm surprised they're not here already.

[trussell]

I think any 911 call from this area should be met with a recording that says "The police will no longer be responding to this area, as they are being punished for protecting themselves and the community. Take care of the problem yourselves!"