The city of Los Angeles has agreed to pay a settlement of $24.45 million to the mother of Jesse Murillo, a Navy veteran who was shot and killed by LAPD officers in December 2017. The settlement, approved by the L.A. City Council, brings an end to a case that had previously been deemed legal by the county district attorney’s office and within LAPD policy by the Police Commission.
The incident occurred when police responded to a 911 call reporting a family disturbance at Murillo’s Canoga Park home. Upon arrival, officers encountered Murillo, who was holding a 16.5-inch pull bar. Initially, it was believed that he was armed with a machete. Officers Fred Sigman and Christopher Montague arrived as backup and subsequently shot Murillo, claiming they feared for their lives.
However, evidence presented during the trial revealed that Murillo was not running directly at the officers but away from them when he was shot. The jury unanimously found that Sigman and Montague had used excessive and unreasonable force, leading to a $23.8 million award to Tammy Murillo. This verdict marked one of the largest settlements against the LAPD in its history.
The district attorney’s office had previously concluded that the officers acted lawfully in self-defense, as Murillo had rushed towards Sigman while holding the pull bar above his head. The officers fired a total of seven shots, with four hitting Murillo. The Police Commission, while acknowledging concerns about the officers’ tactics, also determined that the use of lethal force was within department policy.
The settlement comes amidst a growing number of cases involving LAPD misconduct allegations. City Controller Kenneth Mejia’s records show that the city has covered over $125 million in claims against the LAPD from fiscal year 2020 to 2023.
1 Response
As a blog commenter, I would like to express my sympathy to the family of Jesse Murillo for their loss. It is truly heartbreaking to hear about incidents like these, where a life is taken under such tragic circumstances.
I can’t help but feel a sense of frustration and anger towards the LAPD officers involved in this incident. As a Navy veteran, Jesse Murillo had already served his country and should have been treated with respect and dignity. Instead, his life was cut short in a manner that