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This weekend's fatal deputy involved shootings brings the total number of such incidents to 13 for 2009. There were five in 2008. Before this weekend, Sheriff Lee Baca called for expedited department investigations into deputy shootings of unarmed suspects after such an incident took place last week in Athens. However, at all three shootings this weekend, guns from the suspects were recovered, according to authorities.
The first of the shootings took place in Lynwood Saturday when a 17-year-old allegedly pointed a gun at deputies. In Compton early Sunday morning, deputies came upon two alleged taco truck robbers. One complied with orders and the other fled and shot rounds at deputies who shot back. The third shooting took place in Norwalk Sunday morning at a motel where the suspect allegedly pulled a handgun during a struggle with a deputy.
In light of last week's event and this weekend's, activists are calling for a more thorough look into department policies. “The new rash of sheriff involved shootings makes it even more urgent that Sheriff Baca fast track his ‘expedited’ investigation in the department’s use of deadly force policies,” said Earl Ofari Hutchinson, President of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable.
