Man Killed in Deputy-Involved Shooting Was Not Involved in Carjacking

LOS ANGELES, CA — An unarmed man shot and killed by Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputies involved in a carjacking pursuit had nothing to do with the crime, investigators concluded today. In fact, he was passed out in a Compton resident’s yard in the moments before deputies fired on him.

Several agencies, including the Inspector General are now investigating the July 28 shooting, which took the life of 27-year-old Donnell Thompson Jr. and landed two deputies on desk duty. According to the sheriff's department, the carjacking suspect was arrested after leading deputies on a car and foot pursuit and opening fire on them.

"Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department investigators are continuing to conduct an exhaustive review of the sequence of events that unfolded in the hours after a vehicle carjacked in the city of Los Angeles was driven to Compton," a sheriff's statement said.

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"Deputies in pursuit of the vehicle were fired upon by the driver, who subsequently crashed the vehicle and fled into a neighborhood. This review includes the sequence of events that led up to the deputy-involved shooting of ... Donnell Thompson which took place after our deputies had been assaulted," the statement said.

"The primary objective of this investigation has been to determine whether Mr. Thompson had a role in the carjacking incident and the assault on our deputies," the statement said. "We have determined that there is no evidence that Mr. Thompson was in the carjacked vehicle, nor that he was involved in the assault on the deputies."

The chain of events leading to the fatal shooting began early on the morning of July 28, when Compton Station deputies patrolling on Alameda Street stopped a motorist for a traffic violation. A check of the vehicle's license plate indicated the vehicle had been stolen, the sheriff's department reported.

The motorist sped off, and deputies began chasing the vehicle to the general area of the 2000 block of Slater Avenue. Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau personnel were sent to the scene, and authorities began conducting a search of the neighborhood. The carjacking suspect was arrested.

"Deputies encountered Mr. Thompson shortly after the carjacking suspect who had opened fire on our deputies was arrested," the statement said.

"Deputies were alerted to Mr. Thompson by a neighborhood resident who discovered him lying in his yard and called 911. This was contemporaneous to the final stages of the search for and arrest of the carjacking suspect in the same neighborhood.

"Mr. Thompson was lying in a position that concealed one of his hands from view and was unresponsive to numerous commands.

"There was a concern that he may be armed, and may be connected to the carjacking suspect who had fired on the deputies.

"Various means to gain a response from him were attempted, and when he aroused and stood up, he charged at the deputies who had come to assist the resident. One deputy fired at Mr. Thompson, believing him to be armed.

"The deputy who fired at Mr. Thompson has been reassigned to non-field duties. Our administrative review of this case continues, and our investigation file will ultimately be submitted to the District Attorney," the statement said.

According to the sheriff's department, "multiple oversight entities are involved in every deputy-involved shooting, including investigators from the District Attorney's office and the Office of the Inspector General, who reports to the Board of Supervisors."

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock