Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy who killed Niani Finlayson, 27, previously had killed another civilian under similar circumstances

A Los Angeles county sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a 27-year-old woman who had called 911 to report that she was under attack by a former boyfriend, police officials and lawyers for the victim’s family said on Thursday. Records show the deputy had killed another person in similar circumstances three years ago.

On 4 December, Niani Finlayson called police and “reported that her boyfriend would not leave her alone and then screaming and sounds of a struggle could be heard”, the LA sheriff’s department (LASD) said in a statement. When deputies arrived at the apartment in Lancaster, a city in the northern region of LA county, they could hear screaming, LASD said.

Finlayson was inside with her nine-year-old daughter and had been injured by her ex-boyfriend and wanted him removed, her family’s attorneys said. The exact circumstances that led to the fatal shooting are unclear and LASD has so far declined to release body-camera footage.

    • Flying Squid
      5•6 months ago

      Did she have a gun? Do you think he would even allow her to have a gun? And do you think if she got one, he wouldn’t be able to wrestle it away from her before she shot him?

      I guess if all three of those answers are “yes, quite likely,” your solution would be a good one.

      On the other hand, not being able to shoot the man attacking you should not justify either him attacking her or the cop killing her.

      I swear, some people seem to think everyone should be forced to own a gun.