Thirty years ago, the 15-year-old Black girl from South Central walked into Empire Liquor Market and Deli, grabbed a $1.79 bottle of orange juice and put it in her backpack. She entered the store and according to Du attempted to steal a $1.79 bottle of orange juice. At the same time, Reynaldo and a third man in the car, Jesus Zambrano, joined in the attack. Police immediately grabbed Plauche and said Gary, why? A videotape played Monday in a Los Angeles courtroom showed that Latasha Harlins had turned away from a scuffle with a Korean grocer when the black teen-ager was shot in the back of the head.. The entire event was captured on the stores security camera and the tape was used in the trial of Soon Ja Du. And I think this new generation of leaders today are really bringing that point home. Dinkheller told Brannan to put his hands up, but the suspect refused and began to act erratically. The event was captured on video by multiple witnesses and the clip has since been featured by news outlets. Maritza Martin is buried next to her daughter in the same North Lauderdale cemetery she was murdered in. Jeff Doucet would later die at the hospital. All rights reserved. Her neighbor Obie is the local loose cannon -- and the only white man -- in an area largely inhabited by African-Americans, Latinos and Koreans. On March 16, 1984, Doucet was flown to the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport in order to stand trial. We can remove the first video in the list to add this one. Harlins put a $1.79 bottle of orange juice in her bag and, security cameras At the trial, Soon testified on her own behalf and claimed self defense and that she thought her life was in danger. The bullet struck Harlins in the back of her head and killed her instantly. Watch The Dope Years: The Story of Latasha Harlins Full Movie IN HD Visit :: https://primeflixz.xyz/watch/tt13580904 Tlcharger : - https://primeflixz.xyz/w. On January 12, 1998, a police officer from Dudley, Georgia, named Kyle Dinkheller was shot and killed by Andrew Brannan after a routine traffic stop. The woman who killed her was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, and sentenced to just five years probation. Turn volume down on phone.). It was like they were celebrating her for killing Latasha. Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News at 11 on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. Soon Ja Du leaves court with har husband Billy Hong Ki Du. entered the the Empire Liquor Market, which was owned by Du's family. In March 1991, when Harlins was 15, a store owner accused her of stealing a $1.79 carton of orange juice, though she had approached the cash register with $2 in her hand. On September 30, 2000, a 12-year-old boy named Muhammad al-Durrah was shot and killed in the Gaza Strip. She wasnt seen as a child and a vulnerable victim.. Soon Ja Dus, husband Billy and their son usually staffed the store, but this day, she was the only one staffing the store. All rights reserved. Instead, he pointed the rifle at Dinkheller and the officer was forced to fire a shot in an attempt to subdue the attack. In the aftermath of the crimes, Baldemar Villarreal was given a life sentence, while the other two men received 30 and 40 years. He also told officers that he was wanted for murder, which wasnt true. May 8, 2020 In 1991 a Superior Court Judge sentenced Soon Ja Du with 400 hours of community service and a $500 fine for fatally shooting a 15-year-old Black girl. Soon reached under the counter, grabbed a revolver and fired a shot at the back of Harlins head. A new Netflix documentary honouring Latashas life A Love Song For Latasha will be released on the streaming service on Monday as part of its new Black Lives Matter genre created in the wake of Floyds death. The entire incident was captured on CCTV. "The people in [this] neighborhood . Just minutes before the murder, a fellow officer named Don Welch had passed by the scene, but didnt notice anything out of the ordinary. After the police arrived, Officer James Niggemeyer entered the building through the back door. Whats the difference between Latasha and Ahmauds deaths? Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Jamal al-Durrah was injured in the attack, but survived. The teenagers aunt Denise, who helped bring her up, previously told how she was haunted by the injustice, especially as appeals against Dus sentencing were rejected. This tragic event increased the flames of tension between the African American and Asian American communities in South Central. A somber anniversary was marked Tuesday for family, friends, and an entire community still heartbroken over the wrongful shooting of a young, Black girl. Karlin sentenced Soon to five years probation, 400 hours of community service and a $500 fine. Her documentary short A Love Song for Latasha (2019) was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject).It debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020. Aubrey was going for a jog when he was stopped, harassed and ultimately killed by two regular civilians who Mistook Ahmaud for a burglar. On December 8, 2004, guitarist Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed by Nathan M. Gale while performing with his band Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. But it was a lesser-known case of injustice that became a flashpoint for the uprising and that story is inspiring the Black Lives Matter movement today. The jury found Soon guilty of voluntary manslaughter. At this point, Dinkheller can be heard saying Im in fear for my life.. After the police arrived at the scene, a large collection of people on both sides were arrested. She also believes that her killing was largely overlooked because she was female. "History never repeats itself. My mother felt the need to speak up and take action on these senseless killings.. convenience store clerk Soon Ja Du, a Korean immigrant, laid the foundation of anger and resentment that would eventually explode after the King verdict. Harlins then turned her back to Du and attempted to leave the store when Soon Ja Du pulled out a gun and shot her in the back of the head, killing Latasha Harlins instantly. Latasha Harlins, 15, was shot in a 1991 confrontation with a store owner that inflamed racial tensions in South Los Angeles. By creating an account, you acknowledge that PBS may share your information with our member stations and our respective service providers, and that you have read and understand the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. The trial was covered in Los Angeles newspapers. He snuck up on Gale and shot him once in the head with a 12-gauge Remington 870 shotgun, killing the suspect instantly. Somebody that, whether we knew it or not as children, was strong in our community," said O'Bard. Women are, as usual, whats left over. Latasha Harlins is described as a straight A student with dreams of becoming an attorney. With racial tensions running high, Millie and Obie appear to be unlikely allies. Article continues below advertisement Muhammad al-Durrah has been hailed as a martyr throughout the Arab and Muslim worlds. On March 16, 1991, a 15-year-old girl named Latasha Harlins was shot and killed at Empire Liquor in South Central, Los Angeles. EXCLUSIVE: Latasha Harlins was killed by a Korean shop owner in 1991, just two weeks after the savage beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers. On March 16, 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins was shot and killed by a liquor store owner who accused her of stealing. Drum technician John Kat Brooks attempted to subdue Gale, but was shot three times and taken hostage by the killer. And a Netflix documentary, "A Love Song for Latasha" that looks at the life of the young girl, was just nominated for an Academy Award. At the same time, Nuez went over to his car and retrieved a 9-mm semiautomatic pistol. The incident happened only two weeks after the videotaped arrest and beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles police officers. The cameraman who took the video was quoted: The IDF was aiming at the boy, and that is what surprised me, yes, because they were shooting at him, not only one time, but many times.. Report a Problem | The killer used a high-powered rifle, but it is unclear if he was a sniper. After Kings beating, Latashas death and her killers lenient sentence sparked widespread fury across the city and became the catalyst for the 1992 LA riots. On June 20, 2009, a woman named Neda Agha-Soltan was shot and killed in Iran while attending a protest against the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A somber anniversary was marked Tuesday for family, friends, and an entire community still heartbroken over the wrongful shooting of a young, Black girl. Latashas story was the foundation for Say Her Name, and her death became the roots of the movement. On Saturday, March 16, 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins entered the Empire liquor store, she wouldnt exit the store alive. Cruz can be heard saying Oh my God, he killed her, I dont believe it. Du got up and threw a stool at Harlins, who picked up the orange juice and threw it on the counter. We are still seeing police brutality and police killings every day.. Despite her money being present, Soon Ja Du was convinced that Harlins was trying to steal the beverage. He then pulled out a .38-caliber snub-nosed revolver and shot him once in the head with a hollow-point bullet. When all was said and done, Soon Ja Du was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, but the judge in the case ordered a sentence of only five years probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine. Soon claimed to have asked Harlins was she intending on paying for the orange juice. He killed her. Emilio Nuez responded with the quote I should have done it a long time ago. He then drove off in his car and was later arrested by the police. "And the case shows that its not just the police who are part of the damaged criminal justice system. The video showed the 15-year-old girl first struggling with Soon Ja Du, the owner of Empire Liquor Market and Deli on South Figueroa Street, then walking away, and finally falling down, having. For 88 seconds, shots can be heard and five protests were killed, including Sandi Smith, Dr. James Waller, Bill Sampson, Cesar Cauce, and Dr. Michael Nathan. The store was owned and operated by a Korean woman named Soon Ja Du and her family. Harlins then struck Soon with her fist twice, the blows knocked Soon to the floor. "But this is an opportunity to talk about women and also how women are complicit in this system of legal injustice. At the airport, Plauche pretended to use a pay phone and waited for Doucet to walk by. Jamal and Muhammad attempted to hunker down behind a concrete cylinder, but became targeted by a shooter. Every level of the criminal justice system is problematic with regard to race and class.. On the anniversary of California's notorious urban uprising, TIME checks in with 15 of the event's key figures to see what they're doing now. Get extended access to 1600+ episodes, binge watch your favorite shows, and stream anytime - online This is where we would be," said Tybie O'Bard, Latasha Harlins' childhood best friend. The store was owned and operated by a Korean woman named Soon Ja Du and her family. In five seconds, officers fired 81 shots and Brunston was hit 22 times. The situation quickly escalated and members of the KKK retrieved a large stash of weapons from the trunk of a Ford Fairlane and attacked the protesters. Karlin would retire from the bench in 1997. On 16 March 1991, a young black teenager named Latasha Harlins was dropped off at the corner store near her home in South Central Los Angeles. There is a narrative of criminalising the victim, she says. The video showed Soon shooting Harlins in the back of the head as Harlins was attempting to leave the store. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. The event was captured on video by multiple news agencies and the tapes were viewed around the world. EN. The day after the shooting, Andrew Brannan was arrested without incident and eventually sentenced to death. During the riots Empire liquor was looted and burned down, it never reopened. After the suspect reloaded his weapon, the officer was shot to death. Despite the danger, Lunsford, who was a large man, didnt appear to be scared by the situation. On the day in question, a reporter named Ingrid Cruz was interviewing a man named Emilio Nuez about the suicide of his 15-year-old daughter for the TV show Ocurri As (This Is How It Happened). Why, Gary? He responded if it was your child, you would have done the same thing., At the trial of Gary Plauche, he was charged with manslaughter and given a sentence of five years probation with 300 hours of community service, and didnt serve any jail time. Since the killing, Deandre Brunston has become a symbol against police brutality. 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