Family Of Man Fatally Shot By LAPD Sue City, Officer

LOS ANGELES, CA — The parents of a 22-year-old man who was fatally shot by a Los Angeles police officer investigating a call of two men sleeping on a driveway in Montecito Heights are suing the city of Los Angeles and the officer, alleging the killing was unjustified.

Alfredo Escobedo and Elizabeth Medrano, the father and mother of Christian Escobedo, are seeking unspecified damages on allegations of wrongful death, battery and civil rights violations.

In April, the District Attorney's Office released a report which concluded that LAPD Officer Edward Artiaga shot Escobedo in self-defense. A pistol was found near Escobedo's left knee, according to the report, which says he suffered five gunshot wounds, including one to the head and another to the right upper chest.

The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed Thursday states that Artiaga and Officer Steven Valenzuela responded to a call of two men sleeping on a driveway behind a parked car Amethyst Street about 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 14, 2018.

The plaintiffs allege that instead of following his LAPD training that called for better communication with his partner about how they could gain a tactical upper hand, Artiaga instead put himself at a disadvantage and was "unprepared and uncoordinated" when he confronted and shot Escobedo.

The suit further alleges the shooting was unprovoked and that Escobedo was not a threat to Artiaga.

—By City News Service