In a highly unusual move earlier this year, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that his office has filed voluntary manslaughter charges against Sanchez, who was fired after the Costco incident. “The question is whether it’s enough to deter conduct,” he said. Galipo noted legal settlements and jury awards “have increased tremendously” in police shooting cases as public scrutiny of them has increased in recent years, pointing to the $27 million settlement in the George Floyd killing and the $12 million settlement in the Breonna Taylor shooting. The LAPD trains officers that if they have “any fear at all of any potential threat to them, they can start shooting,” and Sanchez was acting based on that training, Galipo said.Īfter deliberating for just four hours, the jury agreed with Galipo's argument. “He was acting under the color of law and in the course and scope of his employment,” he said. argued it could not be held liable for Sanchez’ actions because at the time of the shooting he was off duty, out of uniform, and in another city.įrench family attorney Dale Galipo said Sanchez was acting in his capacity as an LAPD police officer because he was trained by the department, given permission to carry a concealed gun, and identified himself as an officer during the shooting. Witnesses reported seeing an argument between two people near a freezer section when shots rang out at least six times.During the trial, attorneys representing the city of L.A. The shooting prompted a stampede of frightened shoppers, some who fled the store as others sought cover inside. "People start filling in the timelines for you" in the meantime, he said. While it's not unusual for police to delay releasing information such as an officer's name in a shooting for safety reasons, Giacalone said it's important to get details out as quickly as possible. Giacalone said video footage from Costco's cameras and shoppers' cellphones will be critical to the dual investigations. Police have not said if French had any weapons or if the officer identified himself as police before firing. "If the guy pulled out a pocketknife and approaches him, game over," Giacalone said Sunday. Joseph Giacalone, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a retired New York City Police Department sergeant, said it's justifiable to use deadly force even in a crowded store if the attacker has a weapon. The department's policies allow off-duty officers to carry concealed weapons as long as they are authorized for on-duty use, according to the LAPD manual. He was treated and released at a nearby hospital and his child was not injured. The officer's identity has not been released. Los Angeles Police Commission President Steve Soboroff said Sunday it is Chief Michel Moore's decision whether to put the officer on leave, but it remained unclear if that happened. Corona police and the district attorney's office did not respond to requests for comment Sunday. The LAPD said Sunday it had no further information. The LAPD will continue its internal probe as Corona police and the Riverside County district attorney's office conduct a separate investigation into the shooting. Truth will come out! I'm sure this was a misunderstanding that got escalated for no reason!" "This is a family that was unarmed and was just grocery shopping. "I'm posting this picture because the stories on social media have made them out to be the suspects, and the off duty cop the victim," Shureih wrote. Shureih posted Sunday on his Facebook page a photo of French and his parents. "He's not the kind to trade words, so I don't believe that a verbal confrontation happened," Shureih said. Authorities have not released their names.įrench's family is seeking an attorney, Shureih said, and declined to give specifics about his mental condition.įrench was "non-violent, non-aggressive, non-verbal," his cousin said, and "he has to be pretty much monitored." Shureih also identified the other two victims as French's parents, Russell and Paola French, and said they remained in an intensive care unit Sunday. Rick Shureih, French's cousin, told The Press-Enterprise that he was a "gentle giant" who was mentally disabled. The officer was the only person who fired shots in the store, police said. The officer opened fire after Kenneth French, 32, of Riverside, assaulted him without provocation as the officer held his young child, Corona police said Saturday.īullets struck French and two of his family members, according to police. Police: Off-duty officer shot man who hit him in Calif.
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