Richard Tyson, 20

(Inglewood) Richard Tyson, 20, a young black man, was shot multiple times by an Inglewood police officer at 906 Victor Ave. in Inglewood and died at 1:24 p.m. Wednesday, May 9.

According to Inglewood police, Tyson was on a bicycle, and an officer from the department's anti-crime team had tried to stop him for a municipal code violation. Tyson ran. Officers followed. One was searching for him in a back yard and found him hiding in "dense bushes." The officer told him to surrender, and he "advanced toward" the officer. At some point, the man reached for his waistband, and the officer, thinking he was reaching for a gun, shot him. Tyson's foster family contacted The Homicide Report and sent the photo shown here.

Comments

[LADYLALA]

MOST OF THE ARTICLES ABOUT MY BROTHERS DEATH IS A LIE. THEY KILLED HIM IN COLD BLOODED MURDER. RICHIE I LOVE AND MISS U AND WILL NEVER FORGET YOU. I WANT REST UNTIL THE WORLD KNOWS THE TRUTH

[Daledo]

How do citizens review internal investigation reports, once they are completed? Are they released to the public? I usually support the police in most circumstances. Having said that, I am becoming deeply concerned that the media and the public let stories like this one fade away.

Wesee the story in the news, (if the story is even reported) and then everything goes quiet unless it is an extremely high-profile person or a high-profile case. I understand why nobody makes a comment while the official investigation is "ongoing", but once the investigation is over we still seem to hear nothing.

I have tried a few different resources and searches but I have found nothing. Here is the last link I could find. Richard Tyson's mother confronting Inglewood city counsel in JULY.

http://www.wavenewspapers.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=91&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=5928&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1019&hn=wavenewspapers&he=.com

So, where do the reports get released to the public? Does every city release them differently, if at all? It's unnerving to read the story, feel the emotions, and then watch as the story disappears..

Can anybody please give me advice or point me in the right direction?

[Daledo]

Can anybody please provide an update on this story? I have searched and haven't been able to find anything. This was a tragedy.

[scip]

If you think the Inglewood Police Dept is corrupt you are CRAZY!!! They are all law abiding great police officers!!!

[DudeAsInCool]

Chase a boy on a bicycle for a minor infraction and then shooting him!!!!! What the hell was that police officer thinking? This is absolutely one of the most disgusting things I've ever read in the LA Times. I hope our new Police Chief is reading these reports - the officer in question should be dismissed immediately.

[renee basey]

the Angels are always near to those who are grieving, to Whisper to them that their loved ones are safe in God hand, Richard will be missed he was also a foster child in my home for years, he was a son to me and a brother to my grandaughter . he love her so much I pray that the police that killed he will not kill another person,and take a life like he did richard .

[Rhue]

It was only days before
That you greeted me with fire
In your eyes, Radiance
Your smile, a strong, lithe hand
You placed in mine-

So hard to search for words,
This is so fresh. A harrowing silence consumes.
Fresh as your blood sprayed out on hot concrete
Five shots ring in the distance.
Five shots puncture our souls
With silence.

Your lyrics, your music,
Sing it out, sweet angel.
Sing it from the rooftops
In this night of rain, your song
Of haunting beauty.

Unabashedly different, real and true,
Your bold vitality and dress,
Dancing in your step,
Agility of speech,
Eloquent warmth, ensued from you
Touching everyone who knew you.

Everyone, but one.

And
What was done to you-
This slaughter

There is No excuse.

No excuse for the sickening silence
Of our local news,
Nor the frail assumption that assigned your fate,
Too late
To prove-

-Rhue

[Kassandra West]

Richard was taken in by my grandmother years ago along with 4 other boys. Me and him became very close very fast. The others didnt take me in as fast as Richard because i was a girl, the only girl. That was the thing about him though, no matter who you were or what you looked like he took you in. He change my life and the life of our family. Richard will always be a part of our family and will always be in our hearts. He was one of the nicest people i will ever meet. There is no one like him.

I saw him just a week before the Inglewood police murderd my cousin! I will never see him again. I will never be able to hold him, to cry with him again. It hurts soo much that he will not be here to see me graduate form high school in 2 1/2 weeks. How can you call your self a cop then go and murder an innocent young man. Those cops are just covering their back. They shot him in the back, he didnt even have a chance to defend him self... and these are the people that are supposed to be keeping us safe.

My prayers are with his sister and her baby and the rest of our family. We will get through this together!

[Angela Pierce di Donato]

I have represented children in foster care for the last 11 years. I became the lawyer for Richard and his sister 6 years ago. At that time, I had over 500 foster children that I represented. When I left my job, I kept less than 5 cases. Richard's was one of them. I saw a sweet, kind and needy young man in Richard. He touched my heart like no others have. He would sing to me whenever I would see him and would tell me that he would be famous one day. This is not the way I wanted him to become famous. I have sat and cried many times over the last week. I cry because he leaves behind his sister and her baby daughter. His niece never even got the chance to take a picture with him. I cry because this young man had such a kind heart and will never have the opportunity to realize his dreams. I cry because nobody seems to think this is important news. Is it because he was black? Is it because he did not have money or a family to make this a big deal? All those that knew Richard know that he was special. He will be missed tremendously. I know that my life is better because I knew him. I hope that the officer that pulled the trigger and the bureacracy that will watch his back realize that they have made many people suffer.

[OUTRAGED inglewood resident]

I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF INGLEWOOD FOR OVER THREE YEARS AND IN THIS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HAVE WITNESSED HOW CURUPTED THE INGLEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT IS. THE MURDER OF THIS YOUNG MAN IS HORRIFIC,UNJUSTIFIED,AND UNACCEPTABLE! OFFICERS ALLEDGE THAT THE VICTIM CHARGED AT THEM WHILE REACHING FOR HIS WAIST, BUT WHAT THEY HAVE FAILED TO MENTION IS THAT HE WAS SHOT IN HIS HEAD AND BACK! IT DOES NOT ADD UP. THOSE OFFICERS MURDERED HIM AND NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. I AM OUTRAGED AND SADDENED BY THE MURDER OF THIS INNOCENT YOUNG MAN. HOW MANY MORE OF OUR YOUTH WILL BE SLAIN BY THE HANDS THAT TAKE AN OATH TO PROTECT AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. MAY THAT YOUNG MAN REST IN PEACE AND THOSE OFFICERS BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE!

[G.Butler]

I was a police officer, and this story is of interest to me because I grew up in Inglewood so I'm familiar with the city and the things that go on in that community. The majority of local police departments hire cops that have no experience in dealing with our people (minorities) so when they patrol the streets the make crucial mistakes such as this one. I hate to use the race card but a lot of these guys are mainly white officers that grew up in upscale communities like Torrance, Redondo Beach and they have no experience in dealing with the problems that arise in inner-city neighborhoods. You hire an officer that has no experience in dealing with gangs, and have no experience in effictively communicating with people but they get the jobs to police our communities. A police academy can't teach you these things, and that's why there is a need for officers that have this kind of experience. We'll use the L.A.P.D as an example, they told me that I wasn't a qualified applicant and never conducted a background investigation, but I went on to other departments and was hired. I conducted a study on hiring standards with the City of Los Angeles, and out of 100 or more recruits, only 2-3 black officers were hired. In every academy class that graduated, there is 0-1 black in each class so they find ways to weed us out of the selection process.

If this young kid did not have a weapon on him, then these officers need to be held liable for their actions, point blank. You don't kill someone on assumptions!!! That kid didn't reach for his waist band, those officers are covering their asses! Why would a person reach for his waistband if he had no weapon? It didn't happen, and they are protecting themselves. If you are that scared and nervous about every move that someone is making, then turn in your badge and find another career.

[Gail Remis]

I was given the opportunity to be Richard's foster mother, several times. Because he wanted more freedom than the system allowed, he ran away several times. However, we would always welcome back this prodigal son with open arms. Because he was always running away, his academics suffered. I always told him he was meant for greatness. People liked him. He had a kind heart. I told him people would follow him....but he had to use that charisma for good. I called him my brown sugar.....he called me mom. He would fret when he caused me tears; it was hard for him to accept that it was okay. I told him, Moms cry for their kids sometimes. When I last saw him a month ago, he told me some kids in a band were trying to steal his music. I hope if you read this, you are ashamed of yourselves. He was going through an agency to help him protect it. He was going to use the name "POP OFF", We talked about what he would do with the kind of fame that would come with success. He wanted to have a home for kids, where they were given all kinds of opportunities, like music, sports. He loved basketball and played on the church basketball team, and a season on the high school team. He participated in Boy Scouts. He canoed the Colorado River. I told him their were men who would live their whole life and never accompolish that. He helped at the nature center, and i was told he did things on his initiative to improve the center. He loved animals like his aunt (my daughter) who passed away in December. My grandchildren loved him, he was FUN. He would play with them, and they would sit in his lap, watching T.V. Girls were attracted to him like a magnet. He was so beautiful. I am blessed to have known and loved him.

[Jorge Razo]

I was an FFA Social worker for a foster agency. My director had called me into her office and presented a case of a young boy (13yrs old.) He was traveling back to California with his sister from Colorado. Upon his arrival, the perspective foster parents and I drove to where this 13 yrs old boy was being housed until a foster home was found. Here! was when we met Richard. He was full of energy and joy! He was polite and well mannered. He immediately greeted us with a smile, hand shake and hello. He said, "hi my name is RIchard". Richard shared with us his interest in music. According to him, he enjoyed writing lyrics. He hoped for one day to be a famous signer. A few days later he was placed into one of the foster homes for the FFA I worked with. I was assigend the case to the foster home and RIchard. I saw Richard grow from a young boy into young adult. Richard was the type of kid that was well liked by others and very popular. He had a true passion for music. I remeber him always sharing the many lyrics he would compose. Music was in RIchard's heart. You would always see RIchard with his headphones, note pad, pen. He was a true musical artist. He had very big dreams for himself. He wanted to be famous and well known for his music. He wanted to have a great future so he could one day help his sister. He was very close to his sister whom he lived with since birth. I remember the many visits RIchard would have with his sister. We would travel from Claremont to Sylmar for his visits with his sister. There, both siblings would reminisce through their younger years when living in Colorado. They had a very special and close brother/sister bond. On May 9th 2007, I was sitting down, working in my office when my phone rang. It was my previous director whom I worked with before. She said, I have someone here from the past. I heard a voice and immediately I recognized it. It was RIchard! He sounded very happy! He had come back to ask for help.He wanted to get himself into a transitional housing program. I immediately faxed him some forms and my ex-Director as well had researched some programs from him. He was at her office for about 4 hours feeling out the applications. He had promised to return back the following Tuesday. I remember asking RIchard how he was doing? He responded, I am doing good.I have a part time job and I am looking for housing. There was one thing that stood in my mind that Richard said, "keep moving forward." March 11, 2007, I find out the tragic news. His previous attorney informed me of his tragic death. I could not believe this had happen. It is very sad that a child that was raised by "our system" was "killed" by our "system." Richard was a caring, talented and loving person. He was filled with dreams and hope. Unfortunately, his life was ended in such a tragic way. He is survive by many people that love him and care very much about him.! I will remeber Richard by his last words "keep moving forward." Because that was what he was doing with his life. He was moving forward.

[andrea winbush]

my question to you what was the violation to make the police give chase? what happens to the police officer involved in the shooting? who are we going to get the answers from? he was only 20 years old!!! this angers me what the police didin't have anything else better to do? and the question of all HOW DOES THE OFFICER FEEL ABOUT KILLING A YOUNG MAN ?

[andrea winbush]

why did richard have to die that way? he was my foster brother my mom took care of him we ate, laughed and cry together. we need to come together and have his name not go in vain ! we need support from our local news, activist and a candlelight visual me personally i will always remember him he was special to me and my family !!! may god be with him and his family the mother of his children, his mom and sister

[Sherwood Guy]

I think it's too convenient for police officers to always claim that someone was "reaching in his waistband...I thought he had a gun...I feared for my life..." What's even worse is that the person they're accusing of possibly having a gun is always left unable to defend the allegation. I won't say that all police shootings are suspect, but let's be realistic. In each and every situation the response is always the same, "I feared for my life", whether the weapon was a car, gun or a two inch pocket knife. And the way this Richard Ray Tyson shooting was covered up really has me baffled. How could it not even make the local news? I sensed something was strange when they brought out the Environmental Protection Agency. It's taken four days and I finally found this story. I believe the Inglewood Police Department is covering something up, but that's not too surprising. That's Policing.