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$120 million claim filed against LAPD for killing unarmed 19-year-old
Photo of 19 year old Abdul Arian stands outside his memorial service at Valhalla Memorial Park. Arian was shot to death by LAPD after he led them on a high speed chase and reportedly told 911 he was armed.
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Shereen Marisol Meraji
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Family, friends, and the news media outside Valhalla Memorial Park before Abdul Arian's funeral service.
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Shereen Marisol Meraji
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Attorney for the Arian family, Jeffrey Galen, points to his head to describe where a bullet entered Abdul Arian's skull. To the right of Galen is William Margolin, co-council.
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Shereen Marisol Meraji
)
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1:52
$120 million claim filed against LAPD for killing unarmed 19-year-old
A lawyer for the family of a 19-year-old who died after a standoff with Los Angeles police has condemned what he calls excessive force.
As friends and relatives arrived for the 1 p.m. funeral service, journalists gathered in front of Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood. Jeffrey Galen spoke on the family’s behalf.
The attorney has filed a $120 million claim against the city of Los Angeles — a million, he says, for every bullet he alleges the LAPD fired at 19-year-old Abdul Arian on April 11.
"Once they started shooting at this man, it was like the wild, wild West," said Galen. "It was something that was undignified and something that we as a society cannot tolerate."
Tyler Izen, president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, offered condolences to the Arian family in a statement. But he added that when someone ignores lawful commands from an officer, it often sets regrettable events into motion.
Six days ago, Arian led LAPD officers on a high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley. Arian reportedly called 911 during the chase and told the dispatcher he had a gun.
The pursuit ended on the 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills when Arian ran from the police — and, they say, took an aggressive shooting stance. Officers at the scene opened fire and killed him.
The LAPD confirmed later that Arian was unarmed.
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"No one is looking for anything but the truth in this case," Galen told reporters. "And the truth in this case, in our opinion is that there was clearly, clearly excessive force."
Some of Arian's family and friends wore white T-shirts with his face on them over their black dress clothes as they stood under an awning at the cemetery, watching the news conference from a distance.
Correction: The family filed a claim, not a suit as stated in an earlier version of this story.
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