City of LA Will Pay $9.5M Over Fatal Shooting of Trader Joe’s Manager
The City of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $9.5 million to settle a lawsuit over the 2018 police shooting that resulted in the death of Trader Joe’s assistant manager Melyda Corado. The incident occurred when LAPD officers Sinlen Tse and Sarah Winans were pursuing suspect Gene Atkins, who fled into the store after a high-speed chase. Officers Tse and Winans fired 8 shots as Atkins started to run toward the entrance of the store; one of Tse’s bullets struck Corado, who was inside the store. Tragically, she died as a result. Corado’s family filed the lawsuit, alleging the LAPD’s negligence in shooting into a crowded grocery store on a Saturday afternoon.
This is the largest pre-trial settlement paid by the City of Los Angeles involving a Los Angeles Police Department shooting. Taylor & Ring now has the highest police shooting settlement against LAPD and Orange County Sheriff’s Office (Reinhold v. County of Orange).
Per NBC News, Neil Gehlawat, an attorney for Corado’s family, said Mely’s death was entirely preventable if the officers had followed their training. “Officers must look at the dangers posed to bystanders when using deadly force, and the officers here failed to do that,” he said in a statement.
Attorney John Taylor continued, “We are pleased that the City has acknowledged their wrongdoing and taken responsibility for causing Mely’s death. After six years of fighting for justice for Mely, the Corado family’s persistence and demands for accountability were finally recognized.”
Corado’s family also issued their own statement, which reads:
Nothing will bring Mely back to us and we are forever heartbroken by her violent death caused by those who are meant to protect and serve the community. We will keep her memory alive always. We hope this settlement sends a loud message to LAPD and all law enforcement agencies across the country that officers must account for their surroundings when firing their guns.
The attorneys at Taylor & Ring are pleased with this outcome, although we understand that nothing will bring Mely back to her family and friends. Our law firm hopes to send a message with this settlement that officers must always account for their background when using deadly force. We never want anything like this to happen to another family again.
Taylor & Ring is leading the fight against police misconduct in California. Our Los Angeles attorneys are ready to fight for you. If you or a loved one was injured by an act of police brutality or use of excessive force, call our offices or complete our contact form. We are here to help.
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