Los Angeles County is facing a federal civil rights lawsuit over the arrests of three black teenagers during a traffic stop in Paramount in June last year. The controversial incident, which involved an accidental gunfire discharge into the vehicle, was captured on video.
During the traffic stop, two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies pulled over three people who were apparently on a joyride. At one point, the female deputy accidentally fired her gun into the vehicle, with the incident caught on her bodycam.
Following the accidental discharge, the teenagers, two of whom were minors, were ordered out of the vehicle and taken into custody. The mothers of two of the teenagers recently viewed the bodycam footage of the arrests.
Santa Monica-based civil rights attorney Caree Harper has been hired by the mothers, who are now calling for better training for deputies. Harper argued that the teenagers found the car keys and decided to go for a joyride, but were then pulled over and shot at by the deputy.
This case underscores the ongoing discussion surrounding police practices, especially those involving minorities. It also highlights the potential legal consequences when incidents like these occur, further emphasizing the need for adequate training and adherence to procedures among law enforcement officers.