Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
LA agrees to $4 million settlement in fatal Venice police shooting of homeless black man
Brendon Glenn was fatally shot by LAPD officers May 5, 2015. A friend created a t-shirt with his image the next day.
(
Frank Stoltze/KPCC
)
The city of Los Angeles has agreed to a $4 million settlement of a federal lawsuit filed by the family of an unarmed homeless man shot and killed by police in May 2015 in Venice, court records show.
Police shot and killed 29-year-old Brendon Glenn in May 2015 after two officers responded to a 911 call about a man arguing with a bouncer from the Townhouse bar and hassling passers-by. The officers were trying to detain Glenn when the shooting occurred.
Los Angeles City Attorney's Office spokesman Frank Mateljan said by email that the city would not be commenting on the settlement.
The settlement is conditional on approval by the Los Angeles City Council, according to court records filed on Nov. 17. The records indicate that approval could occur later this month.
"While no amount of money would have compensated [Glenn's family] for the loss of this son and father ... it was important to bring closure so they didn't have to go through what would have been a contentious and painful trial," said V. James DeSimone, the attorney who represented Glenn's mother Sheryn Camprone in a federal and a state lawsuit filed in February.
A hearing in the state lawsuit is scheduled for Dec. 16, according to court records. It is not immediately clear if this lawsuit will proceed if the City Council approves a settlement in the federal case.
Glenn was standing on a sidewalk outside a Venice bar when the doorman told him to move on. The two then came into physical contact, the lawsuits state. Glenn started to leave when officers confronted and grabbed Glenn without justification. They gave no verbal command or warning before he was shot, according to court records.
Sponsored message
Glenn struggled with the officers as they arrested him, according to court records. Officer Clifford Proctor told investigators Glenn also grabbed for his partner's holster.
That claim was contradicted by Proctor's partner and by video footage, and investigators concluded Glenn was trying to push himself up when Proctor shot him twice in the back, at a range of one foot, six inches, killing him.
Earlier this year, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck recommended prosecutors file criminal charges against Proctor. The Los Angeles Police Commission then found Proctor's use of lethal force to be outside the scope of departmental policy.
The L.A. County District Attorney's Office investigation into whether criminal charges are warranted continues, spokesman Greg Risling said via email Friday afternoon.
A KPCC analysis published last year found the D.A.'s office hasn't charged a law enforcement officer in L.A. County with criminal charges related to an on-duty shooting since 2000. In that case, former LAPD officer Ron Orosco was charged with assault and sentenced to five years in prison.
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3230989-conditional-settlement-in-officer-involved.html
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
