Woman, 56, Fatally Shot By Officers In Watts Identified

April 28, 2011 4:19 PM

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Brenda Williams, Deaf, fatal, OIS, Shooting, Watts

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Authorities Thursday identified a woman fatally shot by three Los Angeles police officers in Watts Wednesday evening.

Brenda Williams, 56, was shot about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 10000 block of Anzac Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. She died at the scene.

Police said Williams was pointing a gun at a neighbor and refused to drop her weapon when ordered.

The shooting was one of three involving LAPD officers on Wednesday — two of them in Watts and one of them in Panorama City. The two unrelated Watts shootings ended with the deaths of two suspects.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, called on Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck today “to review shooting procedures in residential confrontations.”

“The shooting of the Watts grandmother again raises questions about the use, level, and type of lethal force needed when officers confront suspects in their homes,” Hutchinson said in a statement.

“This once more requires a thorough review of LAPD policies and procedures on the most effective and safe way to handle suspects in confrontations at their places of residence.”

In the Williams shooting, officers were sent to the location in response to a report that a woman had fired shots at her daughter and two grandchildren, police said. Williams was sitting on the porch of her home when officers arrived.

“The officers drove down the street toward the location of the suspect,” police said. “The officers took a position across from the suspect and told her to drop her gun. The officers then saw the suspect point her weapon at a neighbor across the street. Three officers fired their weapons at the suspect, striking her multiple times in the upper torso.”

Paramedics pronounced Williams dead at the scene. A loaded .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun was recovered at the scene, police said. Police could not confirm broadcast reports that Williams was deaf and could not hear the officers’ commands.

Woman, 56, Fatally Shot By Officers In Watts Identified

Jack Meyhoffer

And what, exactly, would Earl Ofari Hutchinson have wanted the cops to do in this situation? If the cops hadn’t shot this nut and she then proceeded to shoot the neighbor, the neighbor’s family would sue the cops and claim that it was their fault for allowing the shooting to take place. Where are all these black “activists” when black gang bangers and other black thugs are murdering, raping, and robbing? How come they only speak out when the police are involved?

sneak preview

well …at least one cop is drinking soup for a while because a white gunman nearly took his face off HA! HA!

Saber 1

You must be a felon or someone in your family is locked up. Still, your an idiot.

Sharon Mitchell

And where is the cops at went the white gang is out there ROBBING,MURDERING, RAPING and how come you only speak went BLACK are INVOLVED becuase the last time i check white boys do the same thing so where is the cops at went you act up.

Jack Meyhoffer

Sharon, I wish I could understand what you are trying to say but, unfortunately, you’re illiterate so I can’t.
Saber 1

NIG NIG NIG NIG NIG NIG NIG

Saber 1

The cops need their hands untied when dealing with morons. Shoot first and ask later. If you don’t, your dead. Thin the herd in that third world toilet known as L.A. What a waste of time to patrol, just fence it off and let them at each other than the sanitation department in to pick up the trash.

Mrs. Ann

Wow what a thought Saber 1…. Are you against all man kind or just those that are unfortunate enough to reside in the areas that have the voilance that we speak of in Watts? It is an absolute shame that you think that way. It just goes to show that racism is still alive and kicking. WOW!!!
Saber 1

Jesse Jackson and AL Sharpton keep it alive also.

XS iv Force

It was the DAUGHTER that called 911 to begin with, she told the Police about her mom being deaf, no one was shot by her, and the cops could have used a stun gun on her, she not only was deaf, she was also partially blind, used a cane to get around, and the cops shot her up enough that she was being shot after she was already died… to top it off the shot that hit the Corvette was from the cops and could have hit someone… not to mention that they make it sound so crazy that she had a *loaded .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun* the smallest gun made! What did the Police shoot her with? Oh yeah their *Service Weapons* like that is nothing… how about a 45 Cal Semi Automatic M & P Pistol that the Cops used to kill her? or maybe they even used 12 Gage Pistol Grip Pump Shotguns! I don’t see that mentioned… maybe she is a victim of the plan for more gun grabbing and the end of the 2nd Amendment.

salty

guess hutichson expects officers to see her actually shoot anydinjure her neighbor before shooting her. or maybe let her shoot others till she is out of ammo, then tke her into custody without inscedent, and get an ambulance for the victims. good job guys stay safe out there.
Betty Crownover

I think that the LAPD are doing there job and the pubic are against them. WHY?

Mrs. Ann

Should the report have witheld that information to make this women seem more violant?

John Andrews

I love how the reporter called her a grandmother. So, The LAPD will be sued for shooting her, if they had not shot her, the neighbor would have been shot. And then the LAPD would have been sued by that persons family… Can’t win in this liberal cesspool know as California. To think just 30 years ago most of the state was conservative.. Now look how far they have mamed this once great state.

Mrs. Ann

I disagree… I just feel that the LAPD should remember that you are dealing with human beings. They should be sued for what they (LAPD) calls contagious gun fire… My thoughts are that in some cases (not all) the gun fire could be avoided. I totally understand the threating situations that they are put in most times, but not all of their calls in Watts need to end is gun fire or death. I have family members that are in law enforcement. I also have a family memeber that was KILLED by the LAPD without cause. They had no explaination. They thought “someone” fired a shot. Therefore they responded with the contagious gun fire but it was unwarranted. I just believe that there is no need for “all” of the killings by the LAPD. They do have a job to do and it is to serve and protect… But I am only one person, and these are only my thoughts…. They have a very hard job to do and they will always be criticized for something.
Bias is Problematic

*the neighbor would have been shot*
Yeah, from the bullet that the Police shot that hit the Corvette!

*I love how the reporter called her a grandmother.*
I love the way the Reporter called the gun a *loaded .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun* the smallest gun made!

P2

Good Shoot LAPD. Glad your doing your job and staying safe.
mrviking

3 police officers shoot at will multiple times? They couldn’t hold out, wait and talk? These officers and many like them are trigger happy, ready to bang bang without reasoning it out, and where else does this happen ?

In a black predominate community, I’m sure if this was Bel-Air or San Marino, those cops wouldn’t thought twice in pulling their 45’s out of the holster. What a shame and sad ending….

Jack Meyhoffer

“Wait and talk”??? You don’t “wait and talk” if someone is waiving a gun around. While you’re waiting and talking the person with the gun may start shooting. What if the cops had waited and this crazy lady had shot the neighbor she was pointing the gun at? And what if the neighbor was your mom or dad or child? You would say “Why didn’t the cops stop her? What were they waiting for?” Put the blame where it belongs- this nut who was pointing her gun at other people not the cops. When someone is pointing a gun you only have a split second to react. Here’s a suggestion, when a cop tells you to drop your gun, do it. Better yet, don’t point a gun at someone else unless you are in fear for your life.

Mrs. Ann

Has anyone found out rather is woman was really deaf or not. What was the reason for this woman having the gun or the altercation with her neighbor? I guess we will never reatty know. But if this woman was someone that you could somewhat relate to, maybe your thoughts would be a little different. I have never lived in Watts. but, I do think that ALL people deserve to be treated as people. Don’t use the excuse of what you think could happen to kill someone.

Saber 1

The people they come in contact with are the arm pit of society. Broke, selling drugs and women and gang banging over colors and turf. I will pay for the ammo, keep shooting.

pg

Wow, some serious police apologists out there. Why don’t we let the details come out in their entirety first. We all know that many cops will use their firearms like they are 007 and high five afterwards. If she indeed pointed the weapon directly at a neighbor it is a justified shooting. However history tells us this might not be the case.

There will be a trial!

I heard that the female cop turned the already dead body over and shot her in the face…. Nice! Maybe some of you can justify that too…

swhitS

Bad reporting AGAIN! Did she shoot at her daughter? If so was she protecting herself and did she hit or miss intentionally? Did she shoot at her neighbor? She is entitled by our constitution to have a gun and protect herself if necessary, have on her property and hold as she sees fit. I can point a knife at someone but that does not mean I will use it on them.
People are too quick to jump to conclusions on little bits and omitted bits of data.
Regardless this is a Police State and cops are too quick to pull the trigger themselves. Too many of these killings going on these days and no one says anything until it happens to them.
Everyday Guy

Some members of the black community get angry at the cops and you scarcely hear anything when a gang banger kills a fellow black youth/ Why?
Olivia Bitner

The problem is the LAPD makes it a habit of shooting kids with broomsticks, old ladies with knives, drunk old men with knives that can barely walk, kids evading arrest in cars, etc.. The LAPD is a bunch of cowards now days. It use be the they put their life on the line for the public. Now they shoot at any threat of danger.
Ozzy

And where does this drama happen ? Boyz N Hood …. why see the movie when you can catch it live on a daily basis. Some things just never change in Los Angeles California…what a beautiful city we live in ?

Keep it up LAPD, LA finest…
dolores

I appreciate the fact that people read the articles and comment. However, using correct English gives the comments more credibility. Sorry..that is just the way it is.

John Andrews—why do you have to turn this in to a liberal vrs, conservative issue? This is getting old and is counterproductive. The police deserve our respect and our support—and they must continue to earn it. I do agree that they often get caught in a no-win situation.
Diane

The use of Non-Lethal ammunition would have be okay. Shot her in the hands or body to disable her and then rush her and handcuff her, not take her life. Obviously she was mental.

Jack

You should learn about law enforcement. Hard to use nonlethal force when the other person has a gun. Have you ever fired a weapon? It’s almost impossible to shoot to “injure.” It’s easy for you to sit here and second guess the cops. They did the right thing and may have prevented an innocent bystander from getting shot. I have no sympathy for someone who gets shot by the police in this situation. Don’t waive a gun around if you don’t want to get shot. Not difficult.

David

No win is right……I would like to hear from both sides…not the media….she’s pointing a gun at a neighbor…..not good in any situation…..was there a time delay between the police getting there and the re-direction of the gun……being deaf didn’t help…..too bad for everyone………….conservative and liberal……….
GG

The comment about a “predominately black community”, people who don’t live in Watts don’t know, but this once was a “predominately black community”, but not anymore, there are many Latinos of all different levels now living in Watt’s, from Mexico, El Salvador, Guatamala, you name you got in Watts now. And, all this about being racial killings has got to stop, activists don’t come out to these communities only when police shootings are involved. What about Mexican/Latino gang members killing each other, and Black gang members killing each other, why don’t these activists come out then??? And, where do these high profile activists live??? Never near these poor communities!