101 Freeway shooting: Family files $120-million claim against Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The family of a 19-year-old man fatally shot by police at the end of a pursuit filed a lawsuit against the city for $120 million Monday.

Abdul Arian led police on a pursuit while driving erratically Wednesday, April 11. He came to a stop in middle lanes of the 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills and exited his vehicle's passenger-side door and pointed at officers while running away. Officers thought he was pointing a gun and opened fire, killing Arian. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A partial transcript of a 911 call placed by Arian during the pursuit showed he claimed he had a gun and would shoot officers. Police fired more than 90 rounds, but it turned out Arian was unarmed. The audio for the 911 call has not been released to the public, but authorities said it is available to Arian's family members if they want to hear it.

Jeffrey Galen, an attorney for Arian's family, filed a claim against the city of Los Angeles for $120 million, "equivalent of One Million Per Bullet," according to a news release issued by a public relations firm representing Galen.

The claim states Arian "was brutally and unlawfully shot to death by eight police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department firing approximately 120 rounds of ammunition directly at claimant's unarmed son [Abdul Arian]."

A funeral for Arian is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17 at 1 p.m. at Pierce Brothers Valhalla in North Hollywood. The family and supporters held a peaceful protest in front of the LAPD Devonshire Station Monday evening.

The LAPD is not commenting on the family's lawsuit because the case is under investigation.

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shooting, officer-involved shooting, lapd, legal, los angeles news, leslie miller

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