Grand Theft Auto Leads to Death of 13-Year Old Boy
The mother of 13–year old Devin Brown has sued the LAPD for monetary damages. Here’s why she’s suing:
- Her son stole a car.
- He went joy-riding at 4 a.m.
- He ran a red light.
- He tried to evade police officers.
- When cornered, he started to back the car into the officers.
- At this point he was shot.
She alleges that the shooting was the result of poor training of the police. Based on this she is suing the police department in addition to the officers involved with the shooting.
It’s a tragedy all of the way around but if blame is going to be had, a whole lot needs to be heaped on his mother. When I was growing up, 13–year olds weren’t allowed to drive stolen cars at 4 in the morning. At least she’s not suing the makers of “Grand Theft Auto” saying that is where her son got the idea to steal the car.
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May 12th, 2005 at 5:38 pm
Oh, no! Now you’ve done it! If that “mother” reads your comment, she will be back to her lawyers office quicker than you can say “GTA” requesting she mention the game manufacturer in the suit!
Thanks for your comments, no one stops to think what it might feel like to have taken a 13 year olds life when tasked with “protecting and serving.” As a former LAPD Officer, I can tell you first hand, this Officer will likely be haunted by this emotionally and otherwise for the remainder of his life.
JJH
May 13th, 2005 at 7:09 am
There are no winners in this one and despite my tone I know that I am not judge and jury. But in reading the postings on the net, I see the vast majority dumping on the LAPD and very few asking the questions how the situation even arose. There was no way the police knew they were dealing with a 13-year old boy behind the wheel. All they saw was a car backing into them and made a decision at that moment. And you are right, Officer Garcia and the others on scene will never be able to forget it.
Thirtheen years old is certainly young but it is old enough to know that trying to evade the police is a dangerous thing to do and one that is not likely to end up well.
May 14th, 2005 at 1:38 pm
Worth mentioning: the culture of the Black community in L.A. is such that if Devon had been sitting on his porch and a carload of Crips stop to blow him away, nobody would have reported seeing anything. But if he gets shot by cops just trying to do their jobs, people march in the streets.
Equal Time: If a cop gets shot, the case will be solved. The entire force bands together to make sure his killer faces justice. I get shot, some overwieght detective will ask my neighbors a few questions before closing the case as “unsolvable” and then breaking for lunch. How much safer would our city be if cops treated crimes against us the way they treat crimes against them?