Commission clears officer who killed mentally ill man — using LAPD’s own report
The Los Angeles Police Commission has cleared Officer Andres Lopez in the fatal shooting of Yong Yang, a mentally ill 40-year-old man — despite admitting that the officer violated procedure. In a 3–2 split decision, the Commission ruled the killing was in line with LAPD policy, relying almost entirely on a report written by LAPD itself.
Decision rooted in LAPD’s internal justification
The ruling followed a closed-door session on April 8, where the panel reviewed the conduct of three officers involved. Two commissioners found Lopez’s actions violated department rules. The other three overruled them, accepting LAPD’s claim that the deadly force was justified.
The Commission’s only reference point was an internal LAPD report signed by Chief Jim McDonnell, which declared the officers’ actions “tactically appropriate.” The report — written and submitted by the same agency under review — has sparked serious concern over the independence and objectivity of the decision.
Admitted misconduct, no discipline
Despite agreeing that Lopez’s response included policy violations, the Commission still concluded that the fatal shot was permissible under LAPD’s guidelines. The review evaluated three criteria: tactics, weapon display, and lethal use of force — all ruled within policy.
The family of the victim disagreed sharply. Dr. Min Yang, Yong’s father, called the ruling “an incompetent judgment,” adding that the LAPD’s account was written to protect its officers, not reveal the truth. “We will pursue every legal avenue to expose what happened to my son,” he said.
Officers remain on duty with no penalties
None of the three officers involved — Lopez, Sergeant Araceli Ruvalcaba, and Officer Robert Celaya — have been suspended or disciplined. In fact, all remain on active duty.
Rachel Rodriguez, a supervisor at the Olympic Division, confirmed the officers faced no administrative action, saying only that “some roles have changed.”
Review process questioned
Kim Ki-Joon, a criminal defense attorney, said the ruling gives the officer “full legal and disciplinary cover,” effectively removing the incident as a basis for any future disciplinary action.
Police Commission spokesperson Sarah Bell defended the outcome, stating it was based on a “tactical debrief” — an internal process that checks for policy compliance. Bell confirmed the Commission has no authority to discipline and that all disciplinary power rests with Chief McDonnell — who also signed the report used to clear the officers.
Related Articles:
- Court Orders LAPD to Release Records in Yong Yang Case
- Case of Yong Yang, fatally shot by LAPD, heads to court with jury trial request
- Join LA City Council on Sept. 17 to demand justice for Yong Yang
- The Korea Daily files request for body cam records of police shooting Yong Yang
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
