Shooting of Charley Leundeu Keunang

Shooting of Charley Leundeu Keunang
Screenshot of the police pinning down Keunang seconds before the shooting
Date March 1, 2015 (2015-03-01)
Location South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Type Shooting
Filmed by Bystander's cell phone camera
Participants Francisco Martinez, Daniel Torres, and Chand Syed (LAPD officers)
Deaths Charley Leundeu Keunang
Charges None filed

The shooting of Charley Leundeu Keunang, a 43-year-old Cameroonian national, occurred in Los Angeles, California, on March 1, 2015. He was shot by three Los Angeles Police Department officers.[1][2]

On December 1, 2016, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that no criminal charges would be filed against the officers who shot Keunang, and considered it an act of self-defense.

Shooting

Charley Leundeu Keunang also went by the names of "Africa," "Cameroon," or "Charley Saturmin Robinet" (a stolen ID). He was ordered by police to come out of his tent in Skid Row after fighting with someone inside the tent. Someone called 911 and reported that a robbery had occurred in the area. When police arrived on scene, Keunang threatened the caller with a baseball bat. The officers stated that Keunang became aggressive and ignored commands.[3] After he allegedly refused the police order, they forcibly dragged him out of the tent. A physical altercation ensued with several police officers, during which one or more officers shot and killed Keunang. At least two videos captured the incident.[4][5][6][7] Keunang was shot six times.

Aftermath

Following Keunang's death, a protest was held locally in Los Angeles. The protesters organised using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. Fourteen people were arrested in the course of the protest.[8]

The shooting prompted the LAPD to conduct an investigation. The shooting reportedly was reviewed by the district attorney's office, the Police Commission and its independent inspector general.[9]

In February 2016, the Los Angeles Police Commission ruled the shooting did not violate their policy on the use of deadly force, as the deceased had reached for the officer's weapon. The incident resulted in improvements in the training of officers as to how to better handle incidents involving people with mental health issues.[3]

On December 1, 2016, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced that they would decline to file criminal charges against the three officers who shot Keunang (Francisco Martinez, Daniel Torres, and Chand Syed). Prosecutors stated that the officers acted in self-defense.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Press, Associated (30 April 2015). "Family of homeless man shot dead by LAPD on Skid Row files $20m claim" – via The Guardian.
  2. ↑ "Man killed in Skid Row officer-involved shooting identified". ABC News.
  3. 1 2 Mather, Kate; Queally, James; Holland, Gale (February 2, 2016). "L.A. Police Commission clears officers in skid row shooting but faults officer in Burbank killing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Coroner Identifies Homeless Man On Skid Row Killed By LAPD : The Two-Way : NPR". Npr.org. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ "The homeless man killed by Los Angeles police and why we still don't know his real name". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ "LAPD Shooting: Homeless Victim Stole French Man's Identity, Authorities Say - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  7. ↑ Dolan, Jack; Hamilton, Matt; Emamdjomeh, Armand (2 March 2015). "Skid row shooting of homeless man by LAPD provokes search for more video". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Times, Los Angeles. "LAPD arrests 14 protesters after #BlackLivesMatter demonstration".
  9. ↑ Times, Los Angeles. "Skid row shooting: Autopsy shows man shot six times, had meth in system".
  10. ↑ Melley, Brian (December 1, 2016). "Death". Associated Press. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
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