Funeral Held For 19 Year-Old Shot by Police
A funeral was held Tuesday for teenager Abdul Arian, who was fatally shot by police after a high speed chase on the 101 freeway.
Before the service, Arian's family held a press conference at the Pierce Brothers Funeral Home, detailing the reasons behind their decision to file a $120 million lawsuit against LAPD for unnecessary force.
Family attorney Jeffrey M. Galen claimed 120 rounds were fired at Arian, and the family would need to be compensated accordingly.
That equates to $1 million per bullet in compensation for the grieving family. Galen said that that this action will result in the reform of officer training and cultural diversity.
The Arian family has asked LAPD why non lethal force was not used, such as tasers or rubber bullets.
"Why did they have to be so trigger-happy?" Abdul’s uncle Hamed Arian added.
LAPD officials stated that the teenager was believed to be armed. Abdul allegedly told the 911 operator that he "[had] a gun."
Arian also allegedly told the operator "I've been arrested before for possession of destructive devices, I'm not afraid of the cops. If they pull their guns, I'm gonna have to pull my gun out on them."
Upon leaving his car, Arian ran from the police, occasionally turning around and backpedalling while pointing what is now believed to be a cell phone at the police.
Police said he "took what appeared to be an aggressive `shooting stance' several times, extending his arms out, and pointing an unknown object at the officers."
At the time officers believed it to be a gun and fired.
Investigators are still working on the case to determine the reasons behind Arian's death.
