LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Police Department has released video footage showing the fatal shooting of a NorCal teen on July 13.
The nearly 15 minute video shows the confrontation between an undercover LAPD Sgt. Michael Pounds and Ricardo “Ricky” Ramirez Jr., 18, who was riding in a vehicle with a murder suspect near 66th Street and Figueroa Streets.
“It is a parent’s worst nightmare to hear their child has been killed, now seeing the video the horror worsens: Ricky was shot in cold blood with both of his hands outstretched with clearly no gun,” said his father Ricky Ramirez Sr. in a statement. “There was no immediate threat to the officer, which warranted shooting Ricky. You can see the officer already had his gun out as Ricky approached the car. He pointed it and without even saying “stop, police,” he shot Ricky dead. Both of Ricky’s hands are visible and there is no gun. He killed my son in cold blood.”
According to LAPD, 77th Street Area plain clothes Vice officers were conducting a prostitution enforcement detail along the Figueroa Corridor. Around 10:24 p.m., one of the Vice units observed the occupants of a silver Cadillac wearing ski masks and in a possible dispute with the driver of another vehicle. That information was broadcast to other units in the area.
The video shows Ramirez get out of the Cadillac and run toward the driver’s-side door of Pounds’ unmarked vehicle. Immediately, Pounds fires through the window, shooting Ramirez in the chest. Ramirez falls to the ground, crawls away and collapses in the street.
The other occupant returned back to the vehicle which led officers on a pursuit to San Bernardino County.
“Responding 77th Street uniformed officers initiated a pursuit of the Cadillac that was eventually taken over by the California Highway Patrol. The pursuit ended on the 15 Freeway in San Bernardino County, where three occupants were taken into custody without incident. The driver of the vehicle, 26-year-old Israel Dezama, was ultimately arrested for Felony Evading,” according to the statement released by the department.
On Aug. 1, Dezama was arrested in NorCal in connection with a murder over the 4th of July weekend.
Ramirez’s family has indicated they will be suing the City over their son’s death.
“We will vigorously prosecute this case to bring Ricky and his family justice,” said family attorney Christopher Dolan.