Man L.A. Cops Shot in Head Was Unarmed, Witness Says

[alp227]

One witness has come forward saying that Manuel Jamines, a Guatemalan immigrant shot dead by a Los Angeles police officer (who was also Hispanic, BTW) was not really carrying a knife contrary to the LAPD's official report. Jamines, aged 37, worked as a day labourer and had three children. According to his family, Jamines spoke K'iche', a language of the Mayan people, and lacked proficiency in both English and Spanish.

The shooting caused much protest, and some protesters were arrested for starting fires and other property damage. The incident began when someone called 911 reporting that Jamines was drunk, wielding a knife, and threatening a pregnant woman. According to the LAPD, Jamines didn't obey orders (in both English and Spanish) to drop his knife. Officer Frank Hernandez shot Jamines because Jamines was coming towards him with a knife.

Hmm, I wonder why protests ensued before this news came out despite the circumstances that the officer was being threatened? In my hometown, a similar incident occurred with police shooting a mentally ill man named Daniel Pham 14 times. Pham allegedly was approaching the officers with a knife and stabbed someone else.