Investigators probe Inglewood pigs-shooting of unarmed man
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20080512-1826-ca-policeshooting.html
San Diego, United States
INGLEWOOD
Three investigations were under way Monday into the killing of an unarmed
man and
wounding of another by two police officers who heard gunshots, believed
they were
under attack by occupants of a car coming at them and opened fire, the
police chief
said.
Investigators turned up no weapons and there was no clear evidence that
any gunfire
hit the officers' car, but there were witness accounts of gunfire in the
area
beforehand, Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks said at a press conference where
she expressed
condolences to the victim's family.
"I'm very sorry and my condolences go out to the family," Seabrooks said.
"However,
there are facts and cir***stances that we are obligated to investigate to
determine
exactly what occurred here. If it turns out that the Inglewood Police
Department
could do something better, you can rest assure we will."
The shooting was under investigation by Inglewood detectives, and the
department was
also conducting an administrative probe, Seabrooks said.
Both officers were placed on paid administrative leave, as is routine, she
said. The
officers' names were not released. One has been with the department for 5?
years and
the other for less than a year, the chief said.
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office was conducting a
separate
investigation, the chief said.
The incident occurred around 1:40 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot in the
small city east
of Los Angeles International Air****t.
Seabrooks said the officers were on patrol when they heard gunfire and saw
a male
running.
When the officers went to investigate, "a vehicle was being driven at
them, they
heard additional shots, and at that time engaged what they thought was a
person
responsible for shooting at them," Seabrooks said.
The chief said both officers fired their weapons but she did not know how
many times.
Michael Byoune, 19, of Los Angeles, a passenger in the car, was killed.
The driver,
Larry White, was wounded. A second passenger was unhurt and was released
by police.
Asked whether the officers were sure the vehicle was being driven at them
or perhaps
was going past them, Seabrooks said that was part of the investigation.
Asked if statements by Byoune's family that he was out to get a meal were
correct,
Seabrooks said, "That is the information that I have." She also indicated
Byoune had
not been running to the car.
Seabrooks had no information on who may have been involved in the original
gunfire
that was heard and she said police were seeking the public's help.
The Los Angeles Times re****ted on its Web site that police Capt. Eve
Irvine said
three witnesses re****ted seeing a man in the parking lot pointing a gun in
the
direction of the officers before the fatal shooting, and that expended
rounds that
weren't from the officers' guns were found in the parking lot.
Byoune's mother, Jackie Roberts, said at a vigil held for her son Sunday
that he
hadn't been to jail and wasn't involved in gangs.
"Last year on Mother's Day he was there for me. Now he's not here and I
won't see him
no more," she said.
Inglewood police have faced high-profile probes in recent years.
In 2002, a bystander's video showed a black teenager in handcuffs being
hit by a
white officer and slammed into a patrol car. The officer claimed that,
unseen in the
video, the teen had grabbed his testicles. A judge dismissed a criminal
charge of
assault against the officer after two juries deadlocked.
Another jury awarded $1.6 million to the officer, who had been fired,
after he sued
the city for discrimination on grounds that a black officer who allegedly
hit the
teenager with a flashlight received lesser punishment.
Last year, federal investigators said they were looking into allegations
that at
least six current or former Inglewood officers had received ***ual
services at local
massage parlors.
And, a Florida woman filed a lawsuit in August, claiming she was raped by
an
Inglewood officer. No criminal charges have been filed but the district
attorney's
office has been investigating her claims
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