Post by KC on Jun 7, 2006 21:13:37 GMT -5
June 07, 2006 - LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles City Council has agreed pay a $1.3 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit over the officer-involved shooting of a 13-year-old boy who led police on a pursuit in a stolen car.
The council voted 12-2 to award the settlement to Devin Brown’s mother, Evelyn Brown. Councilmen Dennis Zine and Greig Smith voted against the settlement and Councilman Tony Cardenas was absent from the meeting.
The teen led police on a brief chase in South Los Angeles in a stolen 1990 red Toyota Camry on Feb. 6, 2005. Officers said they believed the driver was drunk and could not clearly see inside the vehicle. They said they were unaware the motorist was a 13-year-old boy.
Devin Brown was backing the car into a police cruiser at the intersection of 83rd and Waster Avenue when Officer Steven Garcia fired 10 shots at the Camry, according to police accounts. The teen was struck by seven bullets.
An autopsy later showed that marijuana was in the teen’s bloodstream at the time of the shooting.
Autopsy results and a reconstruction of the shooting scene revealed that the boy was shot on the right side of his body, conflicting with Garcia’s account that the teen was driving the car straight at him. Investigators estimated that Devin was driving 10 to 12 mph when he scraped the passenger side of Garcia’s cruiser and 2 mph or less when Garcia opened fire.
The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled on Jan. 31 that Garcia had violated department rules, and should face discipline for the shooting.
A three-member Board of Rights -- made up of two LAPD officials and a civilian -- will now determine whether Garcia engaged in "administrative misconduct" during the shooting and what discipline -- if any -- he will face.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office decided in January that no criminal charges would be filed against Garcia for shooting the boy.
Evelyn Brown alleged in her lawsuit that Garcia was never in danger and alleged negligence on the part of the city for the hiring, training and supervision of the police officer.
The council voted 12-2 to award the settlement to Devin Brown’s mother, Evelyn Brown. Councilmen Dennis Zine and Greig Smith voted against the settlement and Councilman Tony Cardenas was absent from the meeting.
The teen led police on a brief chase in South Los Angeles in a stolen 1990 red Toyota Camry on Feb. 6, 2005. Officers said they believed the driver was drunk and could not clearly see inside the vehicle. They said they were unaware the motorist was a 13-year-old boy.
Devin Brown was backing the car into a police cruiser at the intersection of 83rd and Waster Avenue when Officer Steven Garcia fired 10 shots at the Camry, according to police accounts. The teen was struck by seven bullets.
An autopsy later showed that marijuana was in the teen’s bloodstream at the time of the shooting.
Autopsy results and a reconstruction of the shooting scene revealed that the boy was shot on the right side of his body, conflicting with Garcia’s account that the teen was driving the car straight at him. Investigators estimated that Devin was driving 10 to 12 mph when he scraped the passenger side of Garcia’s cruiser and 2 mph or less when Garcia opened fire.
The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled on Jan. 31 that Garcia had violated department rules, and should face discipline for the shooting.
A three-member Board of Rights -- made up of two LAPD officials and a civilian -- will now determine whether Garcia engaged in "administrative misconduct" during the shooting and what discipline -- if any -- he will face.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office decided in January that no criminal charges would be filed against Garcia for shooting the boy.
Evelyn Brown alleged in her lawsuit that Garcia was never in danger and alleged negligence on the part of the city for the hiring, training and supervision of the police officer.