September 28, 2005 latimes.com
Mother of Toddler Killed in LAPD Shootout Files Claim

Lorena Lopez blames police for the death of her daughter, shot as her father allegedly sprayed bullets at officers. Filing foreshadows a lawsuit.
By Richard Winton, Times Staff Writer

The mother of a 19-month-old killed by police during a shootout with her father has filed a claim accusing Los Angeles officers of causing the girl's death by firing blindly during a rush to end a 2 1/2 -hour hostage standoff.

Read the whole article here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lapd28sep28,1,4832341.story?coll=la-headlines-california

So, let me get this straight. Ahem. The child's father is drinking tequila and snorting cocaine. He tries to shoot and kill his stepdaughter (I assume the mother of the teenaged girl is the same as the victim's), starts shooting at police randomly, holds his 19 month old daughter as a human shield to deflect bullets, holds her as a hostage for 2 1/2 hours and she not only files a claim against the LAPD, but she also has NO blame for the father who pulled his own child into a police shoot out? Was that about right? I needed to know because sometimes I have trouble understanding logic. Okay. I think it's all cleared up.

So, let me get this straight. Ahem. The child's father is drinking tequila and snorting cocaine. He tries to shoot and kill his stepdaughter (I assume the mother of the teenaged girl is the same as the victim's), starts shooting at police randomly, holds his 19 month old daughter as a human shield to deflect bullets, holds her as a hostage for 2 1/2 hours and she not only files a claim against the LAPD, but she also has NO blame for the father who pulled his own child into a police shoot out? Was that about right? I needed to know because sometimes I have trouble understanding logic. Okay. I think it's all cleared up.


Yeah prisonwidow you got that about right but you forgot something...

She is blaming them for moving the body to get her daughter medical help, but how much are you willing to bet if the LAPD had decided that the baby was beyond medical help and left it there for evidence that she would be suing for negligence in that aspect as well...

And let me just say that my heart absolutely breaks for this woman. My daughter is only a few months younger than hers so I can only imagine her pain. However, I do not think that suing the police department is the right route when it seems very very obvious who was to blame for this tragedy.

We still though cannot judge her for doing what she is doing unless we have been in that situation and I, for one, have not.

My prayers and thoughts go out to that little girl, her family and the step-daughter who no doubt feels (mis-placed) guilt for calling the police in the first place. I hope they can all get the help and peace they need.

Sorry that was so long!