Coroner: Teen shot by Los Angeles police ingested marijuana

AP ^ | 8/5/5

[SmithL]

LOS ANGELES - A 13-year-old boy had marijuana in his blood when police shot him to death in February after he backed a stolen vehicle into a patrol car, the county coroner reported Friday.

Blood samples taken from Devin Brown's body showed he had large amounts of the drug in his bloodstream, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, citing a toxicology report.

Brown was shot at about 4 a.m. on Feb. 6 as he rammed a stolen Toyota Camry into a patrol car following a chase.

Officer Steve Garcia fired 10 shots at the car. Brown suffered at least six gunshot wounds, primarily to the right side of his face and body, the coroner's office said.

The killing of the black teen sparked outrage and protest in a South Los Angeles area that has a bitter history with law enforcement. Brown's mother is suing the city for wrongful death and civil rights violations.

Following the shooting, the Los Angeles Police Commission revised the LAPD's shooting policy. Officers now are prohibited from firing at a moving vehicle unless the officer or another individual is threatened with deadly force from other than the vehicle.

[SmithL]

Put that idiot, Bratton, out onto the streets of LA, armed with only a gun and a Nerf Flashlight, right in front of a car being driven by a drugged-up criminal, and see what happens.

[tickles]

Why would a 13 yo be out at 4am in the morning? why wasn't he at home? didn't his mother care enough to have a curfew? was he running wild on the streets? etc etc etc....

if she had set some rules and enforced them perhaps her son would still be alive. this is really quite sad, but not the cities/officers fault and she shouldn't be able to sue just because she lacked the sense to be a good parent and set some rules.

[Ruth A.]

This information is supposed to absolve the boy of guilt? What is wrong with people?

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[Nipplemancer]

yes, the drugs made him act like a criminal. it's just like they said in Refer Madness. Tell your children it's evil!!