Police
27-year-old woman who called 911 for help was fatally shot by an LA sheriff’sdeputy
Niani Finlayson was fatally shot by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy responding to a domestic violence call, authorities said Thursday.
The family of 27-year-old Niani Finlayson is searching for answers after the woman was killed by police after she called 911.
The same deputy killed another person in a similar incident three years ago.
Finlayson was fatally shot by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy responding to a domestic violence call, authorities said. The same deputy killed another person in a similar incident three years ago.
On Dec. 4, Finlayson called 911 “to report that her boyfriend would not leave her alone and then screaming and sounds of a struggle could be heard,” according to a report released by the sheriff’s department.
Finlayson and her 9-year-old daughter were being attacked by the mother’s former boyfriend and needed help, according to Bradley Gage, a lawyer for Finlayson’s family.
But when help came, a deputy shot Finlayson.
According to the report, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said when deputies arrived at Finlayson’s apartment in Lancaster, CA she opened the front door and was threatening her boyfriend with a “large kitchen knife”; she told deputies her boyfriend had pushed her daughter. The boyfriend was not named by officials.
“Finlayson grabbed her boyfriend while holding the knife in an apparent attempt to stab him, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred,” the LASD said. “Finlayson was struck by gunfire, fell to the floor, and dropped the knife.”
Finlayson’s family vehemently denies the sheriff’s department account of what happened
The family’s lawyer disputes the department’s account of the incident and plans to file a lawsuit for $30 million against the county and the sheriff’s department, alleging wrongful death, assault and civil rights violations.
According to the family’s lawyer, Bradley Gage, Finlayson was a victim of domestic violence and was not threatening anyone when deputies shot her in the back from behind a glass door. Deputies performed first aid on Finlayson until the paramedics arrived, according to the LASD. She was then transported to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Niani Finlayson died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the county medical examiner. Homicide was listed as the manner of death.