Luis Molina Martinez,, 35

Lincoln Heights, California
April 21, 2015

Agencies: Los Angeles Police Department California LAPD

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

Relatives of a man shot and killed by Los Angeles police officers in Lincoln Heights in April are suing the city and the three officers.

The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit filed late last week alleges that Luis Molina Martinez, 35, was shot five times, including three times in the back while he was lying face-down in his doorway.

The suit also alleges officers falsified evidence after the shooting to cover up their alleged wrongdoing.

The complaint alleges wrongful death, negligence, civil rights violations and assault and battery. The plaintiffs are Ramirez’s widow, Monica Ramirez; their three biological children and their stepdaughter.

Along with the city, the suit names as defendants LAPD officers Ricardo Huerta, Rudolph Rivera and Aldo Quintero. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

An LAPD spokesman declined to comment on the case.

Police said previously that Martinez was shot after he allegedly charged at them about 4:30 p.m. April 21 with a large hunting knife at his apartment in the 3400 block of Manitou Avenue. The incident unfolded after Ramirez dialed 911 and told dispatchers her husband was stabbing himself, police said.

Martinez was still holding the knife when officers arrived, police said.

Officers told him to put the knife down, but they shot at him when he advanced toward him, police said.

But according to the lawsuit, Ramirez called 911 to get medical attention for her husband. Martinez handed the knife to his wife and she put it out of his reach, the suit states.

After officers arrived, they told Ramirez to go outside and one of them asked a colleague if he had a stun gun, according to the complaint. One of the officers went to get the stun gun, but seconds later Martinez was shot with handguns, the suit alleges.

“One officer then kicked Mr. Martinez twice and none of the officers made any attempt at providing medical attention,” the suit states.

After paramedics arrived, Martinez’s body was lifted onto a gurney and taken away “to allow the officers to move and destroy the evidence of the homicide the shooting officers had just committed,” the suit alleges.

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