Jermaine Petite Seriously Injured In LAPD Shooting While Holding An Auto Body Part In Leimert Park
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (July 25, 2022) – An unarmed man identified as Jermaine Petit was seriously injured after being shot twice by the LAPD in Leimert Park.
Los Angeles Police Department officials are saying that the shooting took place around 7:20 p.m. on Monday. Officers arrived by the intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Bronson Avenue after getting a report of an assault.
Police officers confronted Jermaine Petit and shot him twice during the encounter. The LAPD initially said that the victim had a gun, but they have since corrected that report.
Instead, the suspect was holding some type of auto body part before he was shot. A full investigation into the police shooting remains ongoing at this time.
This incident comes just one month after San Bernardino police officers shot and killed an unarmed suspect identified as Shane Holland. A full investigation into the shooting of Jermaine Petite remains ongoing at this time.
KPBS reported in 2019 that Jermaine Petite was a veteran of the Air Force and suffered from PTSD and schizophrenia. Several years ago, the Air Force veteran was rammed by a police car after officers claimed he had a firearm in his waistband.
Liability In Los Angeles Police Department Shootings
Around 1,000 people are killed in police shootings every year in the United States. According to the Washington Post, “Although half of the people shot and killed by police are White, Black Americans are shot at a disproportionate rate. They account for less than 13 percent of the U.S. population, but are killed by police at more than twice the rate of White Americans.” There are a number of steps that can be taken in order to reduce the prevalence of police shootings.
- Officers should be properly trained to de-escalate encounters with suspects who are experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Officers should be trained to use less-lethal tools when dealing with suspects.
- Officers should report instances of abusive behavior that they encounter.
A police department could potentially be liable for shooting and injuring a suspect if they used excessive force. Pursuant to California Penal Code 835a. (1), “That the authority to use physical force, conferred on peace officers by this section, is a serious responsibility that shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of every human life. The Legislature further finds and declares that every person has a right to be free from excessive use of force by officers acting under color of law.” Police officers must limit their use of lethal force only to situations where it is required for the defense of human life.
Under California law, the reasonableness of a police officer’s conduct is not just determined by the circumstances at the time of a shooting. Rather, the totality of decisions and circumstances leading up to a shooting are also taken into consideration. For example, if any officer failed to follow police protocol for dealing with intoxicated or mentally ill suspects, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any police shooting.
- Body camera footage should be reviewed.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
Even after a victim’s physical injuries have healed, they often suffer from long-term psychological ailments such as PTSD. Any person that is injured in a police shooting with LAPD officers may have legal recourse through a bodily injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, police departments will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any shooting. A personal injury attorney can examine the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating The Los Angeles Police Department Shooting That Injured Jermaine Petit
We at TorkLaw extend our best wishes to Jermaine Petit as he continues to recover. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability into why the LAPD shot an unarmed man. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar incidents.
Have you or someone that you care about been harmed by the reckless actions of LAPD officers? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims of police brutality get the medical and financial support that they need to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
