They were in their truck when they were shot by LAPD officers guarding a high-ranking LAPD officer named in Dorner’s manifesto. Their attorney said that there were no warnings before the truck was peppered with bullets. Hernandez was shot in the back.
The officers said that they thought the women’s royal blue Toyota Tacoma matched Dorner’s dark-colored Nissan pickup truck. Of course, under any interpretation of Tennessee v. Garner, that would not constitute a justified basis to open fire.
In the meantime, there are growing calls to reopen the investigation linked to Dorner’s termination by the LAPD. Dorner was terminated on September 4, 2008 after the LAPD accused him of lying about a fellow officer kicking a mentally ill man. Dorner accused now Sergeant Teresa Evans of police brutality in kicking suspect Christopher Gettler in the face while he was handcuffed and lying on the ground. The LAPD internal review board accused Dorner of lying. What is curious about the case is that the father of the mentally ill man corroborated Dorner’s account and Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge David P. Yaffe who reviewed the case in 2010 examined the case a year later as part of an appeal filed by Dorner, said he was “uncertain whether the training officer kicked the suspect or not.” That handling of the case has concerned many who wondered whether Dorner was punished for breaking the code of silence. The LAPD insist he was given a full hearing and found guilty of lying.
LAPD says it will reopen the case to see if there is anything new in Dorner’s manifesto.
Of course, even if one were to accept that he was treated badly, it hardly justifies an alleged killing rampage. Yet, Dorner is developing a following of supporters.
Source: CBS