Settlement Reached in Deadly LAPD Shooting of 13 Year Old Black Boy

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  • Devin Brown Shot 7 Times by Los Angeles Police.

The city of Los Angeles has reached a tentative financial settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit over the police killing of 13-year-old Devin Brown.  Officials declined to disclose the sum that would go to Brown's mother, Evelyn Davis, but three sources familiar with the case said it was at least $1.5 million. The boy was shot to death -- struck by seven bullets -- as he backed a stolen Toyota Camry toward a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car at about 4 a.m. on Feb. 6, 2005, at the end of a brief car chase in South Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled in February that Garcia violated departmental rules and should face possible discipline for the shooting. Investigators estimated that Brown was driving 10 to 12 mph when he scraped the passenger side of Garcia's cruiser, and 2 mph or less when the officer, who had scrambled out of the way of the car, opened fire. The Brown family lawsuit said Garcia was never in danger, and it alleged negligence in the city's hiring, training and supervision of the officer. After the teenager's death, the Police Commission imposed restrictions on shooting at moving vehicles. Officers must first try to get out of the way of the vehicle. If that proves impossible, or if there is another deadly threat — a gun — they may shoot. The settlement was reached Tuesday as attorneys prepared for an April 24 trial date. The City Council is scheduled to consider approving the settlement July 1. [more] and [more]

  • Pictured above: (left) 13 year old Devin Brown and (right) a man who identified himself as General Maxwell shows a sign to LAPD officers driving past 83rd and Western [more]