Police officers in Los Angeles found themselves in the firing line over accusations of using excessive force after an eyewitness video of them apparently shooting a homeless man dead after a brief scuffle on Sunday evening went viral on social media.
Unprovoked violence? In an incident that adds to a growing list of allegations of unprovoked violence by police, including last month’s attack on Indian national Sureshbhai Patel in Alabama, at least five armed officers could be seen attempting to arrest a man on Skid Row, a section of the city which has a large population of homeless people.
In the footage believed to be shot by witness Anthony Blackburn, the victim can be seen talking to the officers, who were apparently there to investigate a robbery complaint. Suddenly the man dives into his tent and the police can be seen attempting to get him out of his tent with guns drawn and firing Tasers at him.
When the suspect emerges from the tent the video seems to suggest that the suspect swung at officers after which gunfire from the weapons of multiple officers can be heard and the man is shot dead.
However in a press conference on Monday LA Police Department Chief Charlie Beck said, “While on the ground and struggling with the officers, the man forcibly grabbed one of the officer’s holstered pistols, resulting in an officer-involved shooting.”
He added, “You can hear the young officer who was primarily engaged in the confrontation saying, ‘He has my gun.’ He says it several times, with conviction.”
