One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
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.
Even Cops Are Troubled By Video From LAPD Shooting Of Venice Man
Yesterday LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck took the unusual step of saying that an officer-involved shooting didn't appear to be justified. Beck said he was "very concerned" after watching a surveillance video of a police officer fatally shooting an unarmed man in Venice on Tuesday. Today we don't yet have the video, but we do have a more detailed and troubling description from police sources.
The video, which doesn't have audio, shows officers struggling with and ultimately subduing Brendon Glenn, anonymous law enforcement sources who viewed the footage told the L.A. Times. The video shows that officers seemed to have control over Glenn at one point. But then one officer stands up and steps a few feet away from the scene. At that point, Glenn stands up and struggles with the second officer. The first officer then fires two shots at Glenn. Sources say that the video doesn't show any physical action that would explain why the officer fired.
Video offers no explanation why LAPD officer fatally shot homeless Venice man, sources say http://t.co/iI3hRWOFtH pic.twitter.com/JX2jYwCA29
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) May 7, 2015
Beck clarified his statements today—the police union isn't happy with him right now—and said he hasn't rushed to judgment: "I think I gave some factual statements about the state of the investigation, being very specific that this is not a conclusion that I am drawing and I will wait for the entire investigation to be presented to me before there is a conclusion."
Vigils planned and LAPD will meet with community after deadly police shooting of #Venice #homeless man pic.twitter.com/gzyx3P0W2Q
— Kara Finnstrom (@KaraFinnstrom) May 7, 2015
A vigil was held last night close to the site of the shooting, near Winward and Pacific Avenues, and another is expected for tonight.
The LAPD will host a community meeting tonight at 6 p.m. to talk about the shooting at Westminster Elementary School, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice. Commanders from the LAPD who oversee the Pacific Division are scheduled to attend, as well as Inspector General Alex Bustamante and Police Commission President Steve Soboroff
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
