Funeral Held For Homeless Man Fatally Shot By LAPD More Than 2 Months Ago
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A funeral was held Saturday for a homeless man who was fatally shot by LAPD on Skid Row more than two months ago.
The fatal shooting of Charly Keunang was captured on cellphone video that went viral. It occurred on March 1.
Authorities said the homeless man tried to reach for an officer's gun during a scuffle with police.
RELATED STORY: Altercation On Skid Row Leads To Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting
CBS2's Greg Mills spoke with Keunang's distraught family and the family attorney.
The emotional funeral service was organized by community activists.
The service began just after 4 p.m. at Holman United Methodist Church on W Adams.
Keunang's mother -- Heleine Tchayou -- was inconsolable. She and Keunang's sister flew in from their Boston-area home.
His mother speaks French and spoke through a translator, David Gedeon Sinqui.
She said, "I know my son didn't kill anyone and wondering how he was killed in that manner."
"The police department has not reached out in the slightest," said family attorney Dan Stormer, "the police department has done nothing other than to guilt Charly."
Stormer told Mills that 30 days from today, he plans to file a $20 million lawsuit against the LAPD on behalf of the family.