Police car video released by LAPD shows officer fatally shooting individual

The Los Angeles Police Department recently released a video showing a confrontation between a plainclothes vice officer and an unarmed 18-year-old that ended in a fatal shooting. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice from the family of Ricardo “Ricky” Ramirez Jr., who are planning to sue the city for wrongful death.

On July 13 at around 10:25 p.m., Ramirez was in a silver Cadillac with three other individuals, all wearing ski masks. Sgt. Michael Pounds began following them after authorities suspected they were involved in a possible dispute with another vehicle. The video footage captured the Cadillac blocking a Toyota Camry at 66th and Figueroa streets, with all occupants getting out and surrounding the Camry before it sped away.

Despite calls for a marked police officer to pull over the Cadillac, Sgt. Pounds continued to follow the vehicle without lights or sirens for 10 blocks until it stopped on the 400 block of 66th Street. The footage shows Ramirez running towards Pounds’ vehicle before being shot in the chest through the window. He falls to the ground, crawls away, and collapses in the street.

Police arrived at the scene, handcuffed Ramirez, called for an ambulance, and performed CPR. According to a statement from the LAPD, two passengers exited the Cadillac and approached Pounds’ vehicle, but only Ramirez is visible in the video. The family of the victim expressed shock and grief at the senseless killing, stating that Ramirez was clearly unarmed and posed no threat.

Ramirez’s father, Ricardo Ramirez Sr., condemned the shooting as an act of cold-blooded murder, while his mother, Renee Villalobos, lamented the loss of her son at the hands of a trigger-happy cop. The family’s attorney, Christopher Dolan, vowed to seek justice for Ramirez and his loved ones, emphasizing that there was no justification for the officer’s actions.

The LAPD has stated that the incident is still under investigation, and the community awaits answers and accountability for the tragic outcome. As the public demands transparency and accountability from law enforcement, the case of Ricky Ramirez Jr. stands as a tragic reminder of the need for justice and reform within the criminal justice system.