Los Angeles County has agreed to compensate a family with over $5 million following the tragic death of their loved one in a shooting involving sheriff’s deputies in Altadena in early 2020.
According to KNX News’ Karen Adams, deputies claim that they shot and injured Charlie Towns, a 47-year-old individual from Pasadena, after witnessing him stabbing people with scissors near a gas station on Fair Oaks Avenue. However, the family’s attorney, Caree Harper, argues that the deputies failed to de-escalate the situation.
“If they had received proper training, perhaps the outcome would have been different,” Harper said. “…but you know what? You can’t instruct someone to view other individuals as equals or fellow human beings. It’s common knowledge that you don’t kick a man when he’s down, and shooting someone repeatedly is definitely out of the question.”
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Harper alleged that the deputy continuously fired her weapon, only ceasing when another officer intervened. According to Harper, the deputy took it upon herself to assume the roles of both judge and juror on that particular day.
Town’s family states that he was going through a mental health crisis at the time of the incident. They are advocating for the indictment of the deputies involved in civil rights violations by the US Justice Department. Moreover, they hope that the $5.2 million settlement will bring about essential reforms in the L.A. Sheriff’s Department.
“We are urging Sheriff Luna to take the necessary action,” expressed Harper passionately. “It is crucial for him to acknowledge the alarming reality that black individuals are being unjustly killed at a significantly higher rate compared to their white counterparts. This injustice must be addressed without delay.”
