Rally to Honor Woodland Hills Honors Student Killed by Police

A rally is scheduled today to honor a college student and nationally ranked debate competitor who was shot to death by Long Beach police while unarmed, followed by a march from Lincoln Heights to Long Beach Police Headquarters.

The event will begin at Lincoln Park at 4 p.m., the Long Beach Press- Telegram reported. It will come one day after a vigil for 20-year-old Feras Morad was held in Woodland Hills, the community where he lived.

Morad was a nationally ranked debater who was set to attend Long Beach State, a friend has told the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

The Long Beach Police Department Wednesday released audio of the 911 call that alerted authorities to Morad’s behavior before he was shot.

“He fell out of a second-story window, or jumped out,” a neighbor says. “He’s walking around but he’s very intoxicated and bloody.”

“Is he violent at all?” asks a dispatcher.

“I think he is a little bit violent,” the neighbor replies, adding: “I think we need police also.”

The dispatcher then told police: “He is drunk and he is violent, and he’s bleeding heavily.”

Police have said that Morad appeared to be on drugs. Cousin Kareem Morad told the Los Angeles Times that Morad had ingested hallucinogenic mushrooms and had a “bad reaction.”

The shooting took place in the 4600 block of East 15th Street near Pacific Coast Highway May 27, the Long Beach Police Department reported.

An officer was sent to the scene to help Long Beach Fire Department paramedics with Morad, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was acting erratically before jumping out of the window of a second-story apartment, police said.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that prior to police or fire personnel’s arrival, the suspect was acting erratically and got into a physical altercation with his friends that lasted approximately 10 minutes,” according to a police statement. “While they tried to restrain him, he broke loose and jumped through the glass of a second-story window.”

An officer arrived and saw three people in an alley and as he began to exit his patrol vehicle, one of the three began to walk quickly in the officer’s direction, according to the LBPD.

“He appeared to have a large cut on his body and was covered with blood,” police said.

The officer told the suspect he was there to help him, but the man walked toward the officer, ignoring a command to stop so he could be treated.

“The suspect advanced more rapidly toward the officer who perceived the suspect was now a threat and (was) going to assault him,” according to the police statement.

“During the next few minutes, the officer utilized verbal commands, an electronic control device, an impact weapon and physical force to gain compliance but was unsuccessful.

“Ultimately, the suspect again advanced toward the officer, telling the officer he was going to attack him. At that time, an officer involved shooting occurred.”

Morad’s death has angered friends and relatives, who said the shooting was excessive.

City News Service

Photo: LAUSD