The tragic death of 25-year-old Luis Humberto Armenta Espinoza who was struck and killed by an LAPD patrol vehicle, has now culminated in legal action against the City of Los Angeles. The deceased's family contends that a lack of proper training and oversight of the involved officer is to blame for the fatal incident that occurred on December 8, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. The claim, an antecedent to a full-blown lawsuit, alleges that despite Espinoza crossing Century Boulevard near Paloma Street outside the designated crosswalk, the fatal outcomes rest on the LAPD's shoulders.
On the night of the occurrence, the officer in question was reportedly operating the vehicle with emergency lights and sirens on, despite there being no emergency to attend to. Luis Espinoza – the victim's namesake uncle – expressed the loss, noting that Luis was a jovial young man working in a restaurant at the time of his untimely death, KTLA conveys.
The case has since taken a turn with the LAPD providing edited video footage of the event to the public and sidelining the involved officer from field duty, pending internal affairs investigation. LAPD Chief Michel Moore has voiced his deep concerns regarding the officer's conduct and vehicle operation on the fateful evening. "I have looked at preliminary information, and have serious concerns as to the officer's conduct, and the manner in which she operated that vehicle," Moore told the I-Team in a discussion that was not immediately wrapped with clarity.
Additionally, as the NBC Los Angeles interview revealed, Espinoza's family attorney Michael Carrillo criticized the officer's delayed response after the collision, highlighting the over-a-minute lapse before the officer approached Espinoza's body. "We can see the time, it’s over a minute - she doesn't get out - we don’t know what she’s doing," said Carrillo, pointing out the subsequent actions that followed the fatal impact.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office acknowledged that the LAPD has submitted evidence for the contemplation of criminal charges. However, the office has yet to render a decision on this matter. The LAPD, citing its habitual stance, has refrained from commenting on the pending litigation, leaving the grieving family and concerned public awaiting justice's elusive resolve.
