Ford was shot twice by Villegas and once by Wampler, who pulled out a backup weapon and shot the victim in the back. However, the inspector general faulted the officers for how they approached Ford in the moments that led to the shooting, sources told The Times. [44] His investigation found that Wampler had grounds to reasonably suspect that Ford had been in possession of drugs.
[9][10], Ezell Earl Ford[1] (October 14, 1988[11] – August 11, 2014) was the oldest of seven children. Los Angeles Orange County Inland Empire Ventura ... Pastor Monzell Ford says he was sleeping when his home surveillance camera motion ... Meet the people whose job it is to scare you to death. [30] The protest took place simultaneously with demonstrations in 90 other U.S. cities as part of a National Moment of Silence for Michael Brown. [50][51][52] Soboroff responded the same day that the Board had received several recommendations but had yet to make a decision. I want exactly what you want ... and that is the truth. [96] On January 9 leaders met with Beck, who did not accept the demand that the officers be fired but agreed to treat the protesters with greater respect. Endorsement: The Times endorses Hoffman, Anderson, Henderson and Han for LACCD. The family of Ezell Ford, whose fatal shooting became a local rallying cry against police killings, held a memorial service Saturday afternoon to observe the one-year anniversary of his death. please contact customer support to resolve the issue.
I don't know there would be the same sense of urgency. California Death Records Search. [5][27] Wampler and Villegas said they believed Ford was trying to dispose of drugs that were in his possession, which Wampler felt was sufficient evidence to arrest him.
[49], The Board's decision is not legally binding. Where to vote. [17], On August 18 the LAPD placed a "security hold" on the release of the report of Ford's autopsy. In separate investigations, Beck and Bustamante determined that both officers were justified in shooting Ford, sources told the Los Angeles Times on June 5. [15], Ashanti Harrison, a neighbor, said he had grown up with Ford, who "did not bother nobody. The civilian panel that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department also found that Officer Sharlton Wampler used unacceptable tactics when he and his partner, Antonio Villegas, stopped the mentally ill black man on the street near his home on Aug. 11, 2014, near West 65th Street and Broadway in a drug- and gang-infested block of Florence. 9800 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 107 Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (310) 276-8100 la@fordmodels.com. [28] Police initially offered little information about the shooting,[8] and did not initially release Ford's name or specify why they stopped him. [67][68] Ceebo the Rapper, a cousin of Ford, said "There was never any intent [in the song] to threaten any police or nothing. FORD SÃO PAULO. [23] He was also one of two officers accused in a 2011 lawsuit of assaulting and pepper spraying members of a South Los Angeles family in 2009. Investigators said Ford grabbed for Wampler’s weapon and the officer called for help. [15], After his death his parents said their son had been diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and that everybody in the neighborhood, as well as police, were aware of this. L.A. Police Commission faults 2 officers in Ezell Ford shooting death. [7][17] A neighbor said the officers who shot Ford had harassed him in the past, including the day before the shooting. Pro-Trump caravan blocks center in Temecula, LA businesses preparing for possible unrest during election, Trump supporters hold car rally across San Fernando Valley, Jeannie Mai hospitalized, withdraws from 'DWTS', Pro-Armenia protesters block Hollywood Boulevard, Judge tosses out GOP-led effort to disqualify drive-thru ballots in Houston, Meet the people whose job it is to scare you to death, Mom spooked after seeing 'ghost baby' in son's crib. [26] On September 2 Inspector General Alex Bustamante issued a statement urging witnesses to come forward. [93][94] Later in January protesters continued to gather daily outside LAPD headquarters,[95] demanding that Wampler and Villegas be terminated and that Lacey file charges against the officers.
[16][30] Harrison said that while on the ground Ford "was struggling like he didn't want anyone on top of him, didn't want anyone holding him down". I think coming on the heels of that, it does give it a sense of urgency. The panel found that Ford was doing nothing wrong and should have been left alone. Lally described Madison's remarks as "disturbing and insulting. Villegas responded by pushing his knee into Ford's back and attempting to handcuff him. 25: Everything you need to know about ending cash bail in California, What you should know about how and when California counts ballots.
[1][16][18] Wampler said he knew Ford, but did not recognize him at the time. [22] Smith said Ford had been on the ground when he was shot, and said "This was an extremely rapidly unfolding event. Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>. Ford's family have filed wrongful-death lawsuits against the department in state and federal courts. [5][86], In December 2014 a group of activists including Hutchinson announced the Ezell Ford Police Conflict Reduction Plan, calling for mandatory body cameras, a review of deadly force policies, retraining on mental health issues, a conflict mediation task force, and for referring all officer-involved shootings to criminal prosecutors. The Los Angeles city newspapers generally only publish obituaries for well-known citizens. [56] Beck also released a video message in which he told LAPD officers, "You have my support. [17] Speakers also demanded increased civilian oversight of the police and mandatory body cameras. Death notices—which are paid announcements—appear more frequently. Wampler said Ford continued to resist, causing him to retrieve his backup gun and used it to reach around Ford and shoot him in the back.
[18][19][20][24] Wampler's name had been leaked the previous day by blogger Jasmyne Cannick. Prop. Jackie Lacey vs. George Gascón: Here’s everything you need to know about the L.A County district attorney’s race. [13] Ford also had a prior conviction for trespassing. Ford’s mother, Tritobia Ford, praised the panel for its decision. California obituaries and death notices, 1983 to 2020. ", Photo: Jasmine Richards holds a picture of Ezell Ford outside LAPD headquarters June 9. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times. [22] The two officers confronted Ford as part of an "investigative stop" at around 8:20 p.m.[25] They told investigators that though they carried a Taser in the patrol car, neither took it out, and Villegas instead drew his gun. [27] Wampler told investigators he had been tackled by Ford and had landed on top of Ford, but Ford rolled over immediately and took the top position.
[100], Ford's family held a memorial service for Ford at Inglewood Park Cemetery on August 8, 2015. [49], On June 5, 2015 the Los Angeles Times reported that, "according to sources with knowledge of the investigation", the Board of Police Commissioners had determined that both Wampler and Villegas were justified in the shooting.
Did rescued Woodland Hills hiker stage her disappearance? [9][10], Speaking after the Board's ruling, Beck downplayed the disagreement between its report and his own, and said the result was the outcome of a system of checks and balances. [49] She also said she was "kind of surprised" by the decision. Police arrest mother of newborn abandoned in stroller in South L.A. Transgender prison inmate seeking sex-reassignment surgery will be released. [43], Beck concluded in a report that Wampler and Villegas had been justified in their actions. UC San Diego enrollment unexpectedly passes 40,000 for first time. The Los Angeles Police Commission went against the recommendations of Los Angeles police officials June 9, finding that one of the two officers who shot 25-year-old Ezell Earl Ford in 2014 was unjustified in drawing and firing his weapon.. The original short post did note the shooting death of Ford was officer-involved. On January 5 they were forced to leave, with two arrests made after participants tried to pass barricades to deliver their demands to Beck.
The Los Angeles city newspapers generally only publish obituaries for well-known citizens. She said she heard a pop and neighbors telling officers "He's got mental problems. A funeral director. [19] In a statement the department commented "it was necessary to investigate evidence ... regarding potential threats to the safety of the officers and ensure that measures were taken to mitigate those threats. Tritobia Ford, mother of Ezell Ford, reads an open letter to her slain son at a memorial marking the one-year anniversary of his shooting death. Images. [56], In July 2015 officials told KPCC that the LAPD would re-train all its officers in de-escalating confrontations with suspects and in approaching people with mental illnesses, in part in response to the shootings of Ford and Michael Brown.
[13] His parents said in August 2014 they had been living in the same neighborhood for 15 years. Los Angeles Times Obituaries (1985 – 2020) - Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles, List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, August 2014, "Rally Held in South L.A. to Demand Justice in Fatal Shooting of Ezell Ford", "Hundreds Rally in Downtown to Protest LAPD Shooting of Ezell Ford", "Ezell Ford shooting: Protesters express outrage in South LA", "Ezell Ford autopsy prompts new protests, calls for caution", "Ezell Ford's Family Files $75 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against LAPD", "LAPD Shouted 'Shoot Him' Before Killing Unarmed, Mentally Ill Black Man: Witness", "Man Fatally Shot by Police in South L.A. [18][23] A settlement was reached in the case in 2012 but details were not disclosed in court records. 2:14-cv-07268-JFW-JPR, Dkt. [44] Tritobia Ford applauded the outcome and joined in calling for Lacey to file charges.
Protesters shouted at a woman who spoke in support of police officers, and held photographs of Ford. The excessive force ... there was no purpose for it.
Los Angeles Times obituaries and Death Notices for Los Angeles California area . Your guide to the 2020 election in California. [83][84] Speakers linked Ford's death to other encounters between officers and unarmed African-American men, including the shooting of Michael Brown. Garcetti told the protesters he had to catch a plane to Washington, D.C., for a “prescheduled” meeting to try to secure federal funding to combat homelessness. The ruling, she said, "strongly, on the record, stated that what happened to Ezell was wrong.". The cops jumped out of the car and rushed him over here into this corner. [13] In his youth Ford suffered from asthma and difficulty breathing.
The 25-year-old African American man, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, was killed during a confrontation with Los Angeles police officers on Aug. 11, 2014. Atty. [22] After the release of Ford's autopsy, LAPD chief Charlie Beck said Ford walked away after Wampler and Villegas left their vehicle to speak to him. "Even though it was 10 months late, I thank him.
[12] Soboroff described the comparison as "apples to oranges," due to the LAPD's emphasis on community policing. Ford was walking down a gang-plagued, drug-infested block with his hands in his pockets when he was stopped by police. Already has hit the national media. No. The officers told investigators they stopped Ford because they thought he was trying to discard narcotics as he walked away from them. The family of Ezell Ford, whose fatal shooting became a local rallying cry against police killings, held a memorial service Saturday afternoon to observe the one-year anniversary of his death. The shift came amid a national debate about police use of force, particularly on African Americans. Campus officials thought the head count might slip amid the coronavirus pandemic and distance learning requirements.
A march in memory of Brown took place Saturday in St. Louis. [5], Bustamante's report found that Wampler and Villegas's actions had been justified,[44] but found that Wampler did not have grounds to reasonably suspect that Ford had been in possession of drugs.