Jury Issues $11 Million Verdict to Kids of South LA Man Killed by LAPD

A jury has made a decision that will likely echo through the halls of City Hall for a long time to come. They decided to award $11 million to the children of Wilver Blanco. This man was forty-two years old when he was killed by Los Angeles police officers in South LA. The jury found that two LAPD officers were liable for battery and negligence in the death of this father. The verdict comes after a trial where the family argued the shooting was unjustified.

The story goes back to May 2024. It started with a call about an assault with a deadly weapon. Police were told that Blanco might be under the influence of narcotics. They also heard he was chasing an elderly male at a residence in South LA. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Blanco standing behind a vehicle holding a knife in his hand. Officers shouted commands for him to drop the knife multiple times. Eventually, Blanco allegedly ran toward one of the officers while holding the knife. This is when the officers opened fire.

Attorney Christian Contreras represents the family. He pointed out something that many folks find hard to accept. He noted that the officers had access to less-lethal options including tasers and pepper spray. He argued they failed to use these tools which might have saved a life. Instead, he claims the officers acted as "judge, jury, and executioner" rather than attempting to preserve the man's life. He emphasized that Wilver Blanco never had a criminal record and was simply a hard-working man trying to get by.