Golden State Today

The California Department of Justice has released a report on the officer-involved shooting of Pedro Morales Lopez in Norwalk, California, which occurred on February 17, 2022. This incident involved officers from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office and was investigated under Assembly Bill 1506, which mandates the DOJ to review all cases of officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian.

Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices. "The loss of life is always tragic," said Bonta. "We recognize the considerable challenges and difficulties faced by all those impacted, including Mr. Lopez’s family, the law enforcement agencies involved, and the community at large."

On the evening of February 17, 2022, three separate officer-involved shooting incidents occurred on Foster Road in Norwalk. These incidents arose during an attempt to apprehend Andre M. Mora for carjacking and assault with a firearm that had taken place three days earlier. During these confrontations, Mora pointed a semiautomatic handgun at detectives from LASD multiple times.

In one such encounter (OIS #3), Mora fled into a narrow side yard where he again aimed his weapon at a detective who responded by firing fourteen rounds. Tragically, during this exchange, an uninvolved resident named Pedro Morales Lopez was fatally struck by a bullet.

Following its investigation, DOJ concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge any officers criminally as their actions were deemed reasonable under imminent threat conditions perceived during these events.

The report also includes policy recommendations regarding body-worn cameras (BWC). It suggests that all LASD deputies be equipped with BWCs and policies developed for their activation by plainclothes or non-uniformed deputies.

A full copy of this report is available online for public access.