Family of man slain by LAPD files claim against city

Attorneys for the family of an unarmed 19-year-old man who was fatally shot by Los Angeles police filed a $120-million claim Monday against the city.

The man was shot after he led officers on a high-speed freeway pursuit and called 911 to threaten them with a gun.

The Times reported that LAPD officers fired more than 90 rounds at Abdul Arian after he assumed a “shooting stance” and appeared to raise his arms and point a weapon while running backward on the 101 Freeway after the pursuit ended. LAPD officials said those actions led officers to open fire, killing him.

During the pursuit, Arian called 911 and threatened police: “I have a gun.... I’ve been arrested before for possession of destructive devices; I’m not afraid of the cops.”

He said he would use the gun if necessary.

In a news release, attorney Jeffrey M. Galen, who is representing the family with William Margolin, said they filed the $120-million claim — “equivalent to one million dollars per bullet.”

LAPD officials dispute that their eight officers fired 120 shots and said the number was far less. Law enforcement sources told The Times that more than 90 shots were fired. The police union that represents about 10,000 LAPD officers issued a statement saying that Arian’s action had “set into motion a regrettable series of events.”

“When a person decides to engage officers in a pursuit, refuses police orders to end the threat they are posing to the safety of officers and the public, tells the police that they have a gun, exits a vehicle and takes an aggressive shooting stance, extends their arms out and points an unknown object at the officers, they are subjecting themselves to the consequences of their actions, which may include being shot,” the statement said.

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