Los Angeles, CA — A disturbing video uploaded to Facebook this week is causing massive backlash against the LAPD. Hundreds of residents took to protesting Wednesday night after the video, which shows an LAPD officer pull a gun and fire off a shot at an unarmed 13-year-old boy, began going viral.
As the video begins, the officer, who has allegedly been identified by a source close to the Free Thought Project as Kevin J. Ferguson, is in a verbal dispute with the child.
According to the boy, the officer cursed at a girl who walked across his yard. When the boy protested the officer’s language, that is when he grabbed him, according to witnesses.
“That’s not what I said,” the officer replied.
“Shut the … up,” the officer said. “You weren’t even there.”
A struggle ensues and another teen rushes at the officer, sending him into some bushes. As the officer is dragging the 13-year-old through the hedge, he pulls out his gun and fires off a round.
Luckily no one was hit.
The officer was not arrested. However, the 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy were both arrested. The 13-year-old’s parents got him out of the juvenile detention center Tuesday and immediately called the LAPD after they saw the video to dispute the official story.
“The confrontation began over ongoing issues with juveniles walking across the officer’s property,” Anaheim police said in an updated statement issued Wednesday, after cellphone video of the altercation was posted on YouTube.
The boy “is alleged to have threatened to shoot the off-duty officer,” Anaheim police said.
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However, according to both the video and the boy and his parents, that did not happen.
The dispute among the stories was the subject of the protest Wednesday night as riot police and civilians clashed.
“Calling and sending emails to APD voicing your displeasure will NOT impact the outcome,” the department posted on its Facebook page. “A decision whether or not to file charges rests with the District Attorney’s office and is based on facts and evidence.”
Demonstrators lined the block in Anaheim shouting "no justice no peace," as police blocked the intersection pic.twitter.com/INmixM69F6
— Melissa Etehad اتحاد (@melissaetehad) February 23, 2017
“At the end of the day, he should know better,” said one woman Wednesday night. “He was taught and trained on how to uphold the law. So why does he get to break the law now?”
Riot cops protecting alleged LAPD officer in #Anaheim pic.twitter.com/XRfESPuwER
— Gabriel San Román (@gsanroman2) February 23, 2017
The officer has not been charged for discharging his firearm around a bunch of children, however, the department claims they are investigating.
“We will continue to conduct the internal investigation to determine the actions of the officer and the circumstances, and then we’ll consult with the Orange County district attorney as well to determine if there’s any issues,” Capt. Andy Neiman, an LAPD spokesman said.
“I still fear for our lives, for him living right down the street from us,” the boy’s mother said to the LA Times on Wednesday as she began tearing up. “Him being an officer.”
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