A police officer will not face charges in the shooting death of a 13-year-old boy who rammed a stolen vehicle into a patrol car after a short chase, prosecutors announced Monday.
Officer Steven Garcia fired 10 rounds and struck Devin Brown six times during the confrontation Feb. 6 in South Los Angeles.
An investigation concluded there was “insufficient evidence to initiate criminal proceedings,” District Attorney Steve Cooley said. The prosecutor’s report was based on police findings, witnesses and scientific tests.
“We cannot disprove that Officer Garcia was acting under an actual and reasonable belief in the need for self-defense and the defense of others,” Cooley said.
The boy’s mother, Evelyn Davis, has sued the city, alleging wrongful death and civil rights violations.
“We are not surprised, but we are disappointed by the district attorney’s decision,” said Brian Dunn, an attorney representing Davis.
The report fails to say where the officer was standing when he fired or why the officer felt it was necessary to fire 10 rounds, Dunn said.
The killing prompted Chief William Bratton to quickly issue a revised policy regarding police use of weapons that had long been in the works. The new policy bans almost all firing at moving vehicles unless something other than the vehicle is a threat.
