Los Angeles County officials recently agreed to pay $3.75 million to the family of a teenager who was fatally shot by an L.A. sheriff’s deputy. Although deputies claim that the teen had a gun, no firearm was located at the scene.
On February 4, 2018, two Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a black male aiming his gun at a motorist. Thirty-four minutes later, two deputies arrived at the scene according to a county corrective action plan.
After observing a teen wearing the suspected clothing, deputies reportedly ordered him to stop as they moved through an opening in the fence between them. The teen allegedly ran away with his hands over his head as the deputies chased after him.
One deputy reportedly fired 13 bullets at 16-year-old Anthony Weber, striking him several times, while the other deputy never fired his weapon. As witnesses immediately began to protest against the shooting, the deputies claim that they backed away instead of securing the scene.
According to police, an anonymous person in the crowd stole the gun during the distraction. But the incident was not recorded on body cam video because the deputies were not required to wear such equipment.
After the paramedics eventually arrived, Weber was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives were unable to locate a firearm or any videos of the incident.
Weber’s parents have filed a lawsuit for wrongful death.
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