Three news outlets were in court Monday before a federal judge seeking the release of video footage of a fatal shooting by Gardena police.
The media, including the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press, argued that withholding the videos by the GPD was “violating the public’s right to information,” as reported by the L.A. Times.
Three news outlets were in court Monday before a federal judge seeking the release of video footage of a fatal shooting by Gardena police.
The media, including the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press, argued that withholding the videos by the GPD was “violating the public’s right to information,” as reported by the L.A. Times.
Under seal since February in a federal civil right lawsuit, the dashboard videos captured scenes of Ricardo Diaz Zeferino, 34, being fatally shot by Gardena police June 2, 2013. Zeferino was shot eight times, and another man at the scene, Eutiquio Acevedo Mendez, was shot once. Mendez survived his gunshot wound.
A federal civil right lawsuit was filed against the City of Gardena by the family of Zererino and Mendez. A settlement of $4.7 million was reached earlier this year, according to the Times.
The three news groups claimed that Gardena officials want the videos sealed to avoid scrutiny and because the footage shows graphic images and revealed “techniques used by police that, if show, would breach a ‘law enforcement privilege,’” according to court papers, as reported by the Times.
Gardena officials further citied the concern for inflaming the public’s attitude for anti-police sentiment.
But the news media groups disputed those claims, saying the public should have the opportunity to view the proceedings and gain an accurate account of the encounter, which left one man dead, and “led to the city defendants’ payment of millions of dollars of taxpayer money to settle allegations of alleged police misconduct,” the news organizations argued, and as reported by the AP.
On the night of the incident, a GPD officer responded to a report of a stolen bicycle. Seeing two men riding bicycles, the officer stopped the men, according to a memo written by a Los Angeles County prosecutor.
Prosecutors said Diaz Zeferino ran toward the bike riders, who were his friends. Three more officers arrived and eventually drew their guns, the memo said. Zeferino’s hands were said to be raised.
Police claimed that Zeferino did not comply with their orders and “made a movement consistent with reaching for a weapon,” police said.
Officers warned Zeferino not to move, but he made a sudden movement to which the officers opened fire, the memo reported.
Zeferino was shot eight times, including twice in the back, an autopsy revealed.
