The investigation into Sunday's shooting of a homeless man by Inglewood police is focusing in part on the tactics of the seven officers involved, who collectively fired more than 40 times at the man, a source close to the investigation said Tuesday.
The death of Eddie Felix Franco, 56, was the fourth fatal officer-involved shooting in Inglewood in four months. City officials have repeatedly declined to answer questions about what prompted the shooting, which occurred about five minutes after officers first confronted Franco. Officials have said he had a fake gun but not whether he brandished it at any point during the incident.
Investigators are looking at the possibility that the shooting was a case of "contagious fire" -- a phenomenon in which an officer opens fire after he hears other officers shooting and misinterprets the shots as being an attack against himself.
The source, who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing, said officials are also trying to determine whether the officers were appropriately positioned to avoid firing on civilians.
The shooting occurred near the busy intersection of La Brea Avenue and Market Street, next to a barbecue restaurant filled with patrons. One of the rounds grazed the head of a motorist driving by, and bullet marks could be seen on a wall near the shooting site. Officers also shot a dog belonging either to Franco or another homeless man.
The string of shootings has led the state's Legislative Black Caucus to ask California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown to investigate the Inglewood Police Department and has raised questions about the training of Inglewood officers.
"People need to have confidence in their police; they must feel that they're there to protect and serve them and they shouldn't fear them," said Assemblyman Curren Price Jr. (D-Inglewood). "Incidents like this cause people to wonder."
Most Inglewood city leaders have declined to comment on the latest shooting. But Councilman Daniel Tabor said in an interview with The Times late Tuesday that he was troubled by the situation, adding that 40 shots fired "seems a bit excessive."
"This rash of shootings has stressed my patience and understanding," he added. "In my conversations with the chief, I acknowledge that she inherited this department, but it's time we got a clearer understanding on where we're going and how fast we're going to get there."
