by LAPD Officer Involved in Fatal Pedestrian Collision Faces Potential Charges
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is currently evaluating whether to press charges against a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer who was involved in a tragic incident last month in Watts. The officer struck and killed a pedestrian while on duty.
The incident occurred on December 8th, at approximately 5 p.m. The LAPD cruiser was traveling east on Century Boulevard with its emergency lights activated when it collided with a pedestrian who was running southbound across Century, outside of a designated crosswalk. The location of the collision was just west of the intersection with McKinley Avenue.
Immediately after the collision, the officer called for an ambulance and attempted to provide aid to the pedestrian. Sadly, the pedestrian, identified as Luis Humberto Armenta Espinoza of Long Beach, was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital. Espinoza would have turned 26 years old the following day.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore has expressed serious concerns regarding the officer’s driving prior to the collision. The department’s Internal Affairs division is currently conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Recently, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that the case has been referred to its Justice System Integrity Division for consideration of potential charges against the officer involved. The decision to press charges or not will depend on the findings of the investigation.
To gain a better understanding of the incident, the LAPD has released video footage and additional details. Interested individuals can view the video on YouTube by following the provided link.
As the case continues to unfold, the community anxiously awaits the decision of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office regarding potential charges against the LAPD officer involved in this tragic incident. The outcome of this investigation will have significant implications for both the officer and the victim’s family.
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