LAT: Parents of man shot to death by Anaheim police sue city

[ellisonz]

Parents of man shot to death by Anaheim police sue city
The innocent bystander, 20, was shot as an officer was chasing burglary suspects.

By Tony Barboza and Paloma Esquivel
January 1, 2009

The parents of an innocent 20-year-old black man who was fatally shot in his frontyard by an Anaheim police officer in October have sued the city, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana alleges that the officer was "motivated by racial prejudice" when he "repeatedly and unjustifiably" shot an unarmed Julian Alexander early on Oct. 28. The suit, filed on behalf of parents Jerry Alexander and Sheryl Bell, also alleges that officers "denied medical care" to Julian Alexander.

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Alexander heard a commotion and emerged from his house holding what authorities say was either a broomstick or a shower rod when he ran into an Anaheim police officer who was chasing burglary suspects. The officer shot him twice in the chest. Alexander was handcuffed and taken to UCI Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

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The officer who shot Alexander is back on patrol. Officials have refused to identify him or provide details of the incident and the officer's record with the department.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-julian1-2009jan01,0,4561178.story

[ellisonz]

1. 56 views, no comments.

[panAmerican]

2. Tales of faraway injustice...

sometimes draw more compassion that the daily injustice close to home... Just look at the reaction to Gaza.

And for victims of color of police brutality, there seems to be a sentiment of "It happens", so people move on to more sensational stories.

I have noticed this phenomenon in other ways as well. Many people will rage and carry on about national political affairs that they can't even begin to hope to affect, yet they will not get involved on a local level. Zoning meetings, townhall meetings or anything else that tends to be open to the public on a local level always have room to spare.

[ellisonz]

3. Fucking Disneyland.

[CRF450]

4. He ran into the officer giving chase of burglary suspects?

NTM with a broom handle or whatever, that was a dumb move... I dont see whats racially motivated by that,

[LisaL]

5. Well he most likely had no idea a police officer was

chasing a suspect.

[CRF450]

7. Well...

I was thinking along the lines that the officer was maybe surprised all of a sudden at seeing someone running at him with an object in hand. Whether its intentional or not, a police officer is gonna take that as a threat to his/her safety in the middle of chasing a suspect, especially when the adrenalin is going.

Going by what was described in the article how it happened, wrongful death, yes. Civil rights violation, no I HIGHLY doubt it.

[LisaL]

8. I agree with your take on a situation.

It's a very unfortunate situation.

[Greyhound]

6. Another day in the police state. K&R

Police in America are given a license to murder with impunity, especially brown people. The poor make for fine target practice too.

Property takes precedence over life and we want to keep it that way. We are really sick.

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." - Jiddu Krishnamurti