by farzan amiri | Dec 9, 2015 | News Blog
EAST HOLLYWOOD–The mother and sister of Walter De Leon, the 48-year-old man who was critically wounded by Los Angeles Police officers last Friday, have retained attorney Mark Geragos, according to multiple sources. Geragos is best known for representing O.J. Simpson in his 1994 criminal trial. He is also a frequent guest on CNN. Nearly a week later, De Leon remains in a medically induced coma at County Los Angeles-USC Medical Center. The coma was necessary, sources say, to prevent brain swelling. According to attorneys, an initial investigation indicates three gun shots were fired at De Leon: two in rapid succession and a third after a pause. One bullet, they said, hit De Leon in the eye and exited the back of his head and another hit his chest. The third bullet missed De Leon and struck a nearby garage door, they said. Attorneys said they believe one officer was responsible for firing all three bullets, possibly the officer that was riding passenger while patrolling the area around Griffith Park June 19th. According to Harry Kazakian, of the Woodland Hills based legal and investigative firm assisting Geragos, De Leon was in the area as he has been staying at his sister’s home near Los Angeles City College. Additionally, Ben Meiselas, an attorney with Geragos’ firm, said a gathering of support for De Leon and his family is being planned for Saturday in the Los Feliz area, but did not have details yet. According to Meiselas, De Leon’s two children are being represented by another law firm in the matter. Source:...
by farzan amiri | Dec 9, 2015 | News Blog
BAKERSFIELD. Calif. – It’s been five days since Jason Alderman was shot and killed by police Saturday night at a Subway restaurant in Oildale. As the investigation continues, the Alderman family is still trying to understand how that fateful night unfolded. Police initially said surveillance video of the incident wasn’t available. But on Tuesday, BPD reported that Subway did in fact catch the incident on camera, and detectives have since seized the surveillance system as part of the investigation. On Thursday, two private investigators went knocking on business doors trying to get their hands on any other surveillance video that may be available. “After speaking with the owner Nick, he clearly indicated that after speaking with the police officers, Bakersfield Police Department took the DVR. “When I asked if he saw what it was showing he replied, Yes he did. But when I asked, ‘Can you tell us what did it show,’ he said he’d rather not,” said U.S.A. Legal Investigative Services, Harry Kazakian. These investigators are working for the Los Angeles law firm Geragos & Geragos, who are representing the Alderman family. They later headed to the police station trying to get a copy of the surveillance video – or just to take a look at the footage – but ended up leaving empty handed due to the investigative process. “We don’t release information, we don’t release evidence in an ongoing criminal investigation,” said Sgt. Joe Grubbs with BPD, who added that proper procedure for anyone is to file a Freedom of Information Act request with the department, after which which the agency has 10 days to respond....
by farzan amiri | Dec 9, 2015 | News Blog
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Community members marched Saturday in Los Feliz, where an unarmed man was shot by police because they believed he had a gun hidden under a gray cloth. Supporters carrying gray cloths gathered by a fountain at Los Feliz Boulevard and Riverside Drive, hoping to draw attention to the June 19 shooting. “The family is broken right now. They’ve lost their trust to the law enforcement,” said Harry Kazakian, an investigator hired by Deleon’s family. Earlier this month, Walter Deleon walked towards officers with a gray cloth wrapped around his arm in “an aggressive manner,” police officials said. They told him to drop his weapon, but Deleon did not lower his hand. Officer Cairo Palacios then opened fire, critically injuring Deleon. No officers were injured and no gun was found. Neither officer were wearing body cameras during the incident. Deleon, 48, was in critical condition. An investigation was underway. Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division at (213) 486-5230. Source:...
by farzan amiri | Dec 8, 2015 | News Blog
Earlier today, Saturday, June 27, I joined about 60 others for #WalkforWalt in honor of Walter DeLeon, the unarmed man shot by the LAPD last Friday. Friends, family and neighbors met at the Mulholland Memorial Fountain at 5pm to talk about Mr. DeLeon, what exactly happened on that Friday evening, offer support to his family and talk to the media. The shooting hasn’t been getting much coverage by the news — local or otherwise — so it was nice to see that ABC 7, CBS 2, NBC4 and KCAL 9 all showed up to cover the event. I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. DeLeon’s daughter, nephew and niece. At around 6pm we started walking the half-mile stretch from the Fountain to where the shooting occurred on Los Feliz Boulevard and Tica Drive. Supporters of all ages carried gray towels in honor of Mr. DeLeon, who was carrying one the day he was shot (the two police officers believed he was hiding a weapon beneath the towel). A few held signs, one reading, ‘DID YOU SEE IT? EYEWITNESS?’#WalkforWalt Sign When arriving on site, a candle was lit and flowers and the towels were laid down on the very spot Mr. DeLeon lied for 15 minutes before being loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. LAPD Shooting – Flowers, Candles, TowelsThe silence was only interrupted by the tears of the victim’s family and friends and occasional cars honking in support. I offered his mother tissues to wipe away her tears, streaming down her face with no end in sight. It was the very least I could do....
