No charges for L.A. County deputy who shot man in back as he lay on pavement
Briefly

Los Angeles County prosecutors have decided not to file criminal charges against Deputy Yen Liu for the shooting of Adrian Abelar in 2021, determining that he acted in self-defense. Liu shot Abelar in the back while responding to reports of threats made by him. Although Abelar had discarded his firearm and was face down, the deputies perceived a potential danger from his previous behavior. The prosecutors cited insufficient evidence to contradict Liu's claim of self-defense, alongside Abelar's prior criminal history and the context of the incident.
The investigation revealed that when Deputy Yen Liu approached Adrian Abelar, the latter had already discarded a weapon and was face down on the pavement. Despite this, Liu fired at point-blank range, claiming self-defense against perceived threats, which ultimately led prosecutors to rule out criminal charges.
Los Angeles County prosecutors found "insufficient evidence" to prove Deputy Liu was not acting in lawful self-defense when he shot Abelar, resulting in significant physical harm. The decision reflects the complexities surrounding law enforcement responses to perceived threats.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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