Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Caught On Video: Cop Fatally Shoots Unarmed Homeless Man
The fatal police shooting of an unarmed homeless man earlier this week was caught on cellphone video by a bystander.
Hans Kevin Arrellano, 22, was shot by Santa Ana police officers on Tuesday afternoon in front of a smoothie shop called Jugos La Tropicana. A witness video of the incident shows a female officer shooting Arellano, and a bystander can be heard off-camera asking police why they fired on Arrellano. The witness, who did not want to be identified, submitted the video to CBS2.
Police say that Arellano was "combative" that day, and he had been getting into fights with people at a nearby McDonald's. Arellano then ran to the juice bar, where the shooting occurred. They added that Arrellano had previously been convicted of burglary, and he was also a suspect in a robbery, according to ABC.
The witness described the shooting to CBS: "[The female police officer] exited her patrol car, gun drawn, and asked the gentlemen to get on the ground. The gentlemen didn't get on the ground, he was still inside the restaurant. She asked again. The man then exited the restaurant, and as he was exiting the restaurant, he said, 'What are you gonna do, bitch?' About a second later, she shot him in the chest."
Support for LAist comes from
Arellano was shot by a female police officer who was a 13-year veteran of the department, ABC reports. She is currently on paid leave until she is cleared to return to work by a psychologist, CBS reports.
After viewing the video, Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department told CBS, "This is something that is going to be a key piece of evidence. It's something that we encourage people, if they have, to bring forward. This needs to get in the hands of the D.A. and our detectives. ... we're trying to be open and honest. There's three separate investigations that are going on simultaneously."
Arellano's family have also seen the video, which is shot at a considerable distance, and believe the officer shouldn't have used lethal force. Arellano's niece, Yenniffer Moreno said, "I believe they should have Tased him, hit him with a baton, anything, but not shot him to kill him."
Police confirmed that the officer had non-lethal weapons on her and that Arellano was not armed. Friends told ABC one of Arellano's few possessions was an iPod that they believe the officer might have mistaken for a weapon. Family members and friends gathered for a vigil Thursday night in front of the site where Arellano was killed.
You can watch the witness' cell phone video on this CBS news report:
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs. -
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
Best of LAist