LOS ANGELES, CA – Two men who say they were victims of an armed robbery in South Los Angeles have filed a civil lawsuit after being shot not by the suspect, but by responding Los Angeles Police Department officers. The incident, which took place on Dec. 28, 2024, is now under internal review and has raised new questions about LAPD use-of-force protocols.
Body-worn camera footage released by LAPD shows Southeast Division officers arriving on the 300 block of East 114th Street to find three men in a violent struggle on the ground—one armed with a rifle and the others trying to restrain him. As officers approached the scene, one man could be heard yelling, “He has a gun,” in apparent reference to the suspect. Moments later, officers opened fire, striking all three men.
According to attorney Luis Carrillo, who is representing the two men injured by police gunfire, the victims had been targeted by a man armed with an AK-47-style rifle and a knife. Security camera footage shared by Carrillo appears to corroborate their account, showing the victims tackling the armed suspect in an attempt to disarm him before officers arrived.
The lawsuit claims LAPD officers failed to identify themselves and did not assess the situation before using lethal force. “They are trained to approach situations like this differently,” Carrillo said. “Why not try to de-escalate before opening fire?” He also noted that no verbal commands or attempts at de-escalation were evident before shots were fired.
LAPD has not commented on the lawsuit but confirmed that an internal investigation is underway. In the bodycam footage released by the department, officers are later seen applying tourniquets and calling for medical assistance once they realized the two wounded men were victims.
None of the injuries were fatal. The suspect, identified as Kevin Doby, was also shot and taken into custody. LAPD said officers recovered a loaded AK-47, a folding knife, and ammunition at the scene. The Los Angeles County District Attorney has since filed charges against Doby, including armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The case adds to growing scrutiny of police use-of-force in fast-moving and chaotic encounters, particularly in communities already experiencing strained relationships with law enforcement. It also highlights the legal and ethical complexity surrounding officer-involved shootings where the lines between suspect and victim are blurred.
