March held to mark 18 months since fatal SFPD shooting of Amilcar Lopez Perez

Byby Sergio Quintana KGO logo
Saturday, August 27, 2016
March held to mark 18 months since fatal SFPD shooting
Activists took to the streets in San Francisco to mark 18 months since police shot and killed a 20-year-old Guatemalan immigrant.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Activists took to the streets in San Francisco to mark 18 months since San Francisco police shot and killed a 20-year-old Guatemalan immigrant.

Amilcar Lopez was shot at least six times by two plainclothes police officers.

Since February of 2015 when Amilcar Lopez was shot, former police Chief Greg Suhr has resigned under pressure over multiple police shootings, and the district attorney still hasn't filed charges in this case.

RELATED: George Gascon explains delay in fatal SFPD shooting investigation

A sidewalk mural marked where 20-year-old Amilcar Lopez was killed. Demonstrators say they'll keep pressure on authorities to seek justice for Lopez.

"We've been waiting a year and a half for the DA's decision insisting he charge the officers who killed Amilcar with murder," protest organizer Rev. Richard Smith.

Lopez was shot by two plainclothes officers after they say he used a kitchen knife to try to steal a bike from a rider, and that he lunged at the officers when they told him to drop the weapon.

An independent autopsy and the medical examiner's report seem to contradict that.

"The big evidence is the autopsy evidence, six shots in the back is unheard of. The Supreme Court said many years ago, you don't do that to a fleeing anybody," said civil rights attorney Bill Simpich.

During the demonstration protesters held a banner with 64 names, people who have been shot by San Francisco police since 2000, and none of the officers involved ever faced charges.

Public defender Jeff Adachi questions why DA's are so averse to bringing cases against the police.

"We have a person who was shot six times in the back. There's no question the bullets came from guns that were held by police officers. Why isn't there even a charge of negligent discharge?" Adachi said.

Organizers are calling on California Attorney General Kamala Harris to appoint a special prosecutor.

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