Sergio Jose Rojas, 21

Sergio Jose Rojas, 21, a young Latino man, was shot multiple times in an officer-involved shooting at the Ramona Gardens Housing Development  in Boyle Heights about 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 12.  According to police, Officers Jose Alfaro and Jacob Avalos with LAPD's Community Law Enforcement and Recovery unit were patrolling the area on foot when they responded to a radio call of a suspect on a bicycle refusing to be detained. Alfaro and Avalos hid behind some buildings and attempted to apprehend  Rojas as he approached their location. Police say  Rojas abandoned his bicycle, pulled out a small-caliber pistol and led the officers on a foot pursuit. Rojas then allegedly pointed the pistol at the officers as he was running. The officers fired several shots, striking Rojas multiple times. He was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a chrome .25-caliber semi-automatic pistol was recovered at the scene. The shooting is being investigated by LAPD's Force Investigation Division.

Comments

[ruben]

These cops are out of control, look at this one
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-oceanside19mar19,1,6320318.story

and he's on "paid leave" they should be in JAIL like any other human being, they make mistakes and they have to pay for it, but knowing our justice system he will lose his job and probably come to LAPD. And all you bloggers will come to his defense and say something like "well maybe the 8yr old boy made a threatning move towards the officer". WAKE UP PEOPLE!

[Mark]

Ruben, why arent you asking the obvious question of why did he point a gun at the officers?

[Life in the Ghetto]

Great points Ruben. To Sergio's family I wish my sincerest condolences. I grew up in Ramona Gardens and am not condoning what this young man is accused of doing. I could tell you that everyone in the neighborhood know's that if you point a gun at officers, this will be the results. So it's hard for me to believe that this young man pointed a weapon and didn't get one shot off, if this was his intention. I understand that the police aren't going to wait for that to happen. But, could he have been trying to get rid of it and in all the adrenaline filled chaos could the police have acted hastily. Yes, I know that you can argue that he shouldn't have had the gun in the first place and I can I say he shouldn't have been living in the projects in the second place. But we all have to survive and live with cards that life has dealt. Unfornutanely, life in some areas the same rules for surviving DO NOT APPLY as they do in the rest of society.
Arturo - RIP - LAPD
Paris - RIP - LAPD
Sergio - RIP - LAPD

[jc]

although the incident in San Diego looks to be neglegience on the part of the officer and he should pay for what he did, you cannot condemn every officer or every situation. in this case this person pulled out a gun and POINTED at them. There is nothing more that can be done except for the offices to defend themselves. Another thing comes to m ind, if he wasn't guilty why did he run? and more importantly, why was he carrying a gun?

[Mark]

Life in the Ghetto ..... If you carry gun like the deceased did, it emant he was up to no good. I wouldnt be surprised that he had commited all sorts of crime sin his life, so this was his karma. Live by the gun, die by the gun.

And it is a bit rediculous to say the police should have hesitated untill he fired some shots off first. Its good they got him before he could hurt anyone.

[ruben]

He did not point his gun at the cops, he was no angel, but he did not deserve to be murdered ..Councilman Huizar has opened an Investigation and i hope he follows through. All you have to do is ask the 15 witnesses that are WILLING to testify that he did not (remember it was in daytime) but what do cops do? They send in Riot and crowd control and tell everyone "Get the hell Back in Your Houses!"

[Rick]

Why do young latin men always run from the police? Maybe if they stopped running and pulling guns on the police they would live longer. If he had of just given up, he would be in jail and not the morgue.

[Tony]

Ruben, you must be kidding. People complain and say the cops don't do anything to keep their community safe, the cops get an armed thug off the streets and people complain. It's no wonder that people outside your hood don't care. People like you try to blame all of life’s problems on someone else. And since when do people speak out after they witness a crime. How many crimes go unsolved because nobody, speaks up. Even in cases where people witness some of these children being shot up in the streets, they don't snitch.

[Dirty Dogs]

Mark, i dont believe that Life in the Ghetto was implying that the police officer should wait for someone to shoot at them before dischargin there weapon. However, there must an investigation to determine if the LAPD statements are accurate. If in fact he did point the weapon towards the officers then there has been no crime committed on part of the officers. However, to take the LAPD statements made in an officer related shoting without any questions would be premature. Like "life in the ghettor" stated this tragic event was comitted during the day time. There has to be at least a couple of dozen witnesses who can come forward and describe what they saw. For now, the appropriate thing to do is to wait for the investigation and determine if the officers did act appropriately. Much love to everyone in the projects, peligro grande!

[ruben]

Tony

People outside "My Hood" DO CARE, and just because you live in Westwood or blog from Hollywood Hills, and FYI, i moved out of "the hood" but i still go back there and volunteer and prevent kids from joining gangs or dropping out, which is more than i can say for you, who just adds to the problem, and critisizes the community

[Nicey]

Ruben,

Considering the drop out rate in Rooselvelt, Garfield, Wilson and on and on and the number of gang members I can tell that your efforts are paying off. Please share your secrets. How many "kids" have you saved? What's that I hear? You don't keep records? Well, well. What organizations do you work with? I'm sorry did you say you sit in a park and play basetball with them? Oh. What tools to you employ? What skills do you teach. What is your goal and how do you measure your success?

[fyi]

It's sad 2 c so many young kids loose their life over drugs, and gangs. I don't understand why they live the life they live. No one deserves 2 die, but what do gangmembers expect ? they r asking 4 it when they join in the first place.They need 2 stop and think. How dare they fight for a piece of street that will never b own by them. Pitty please! They want pitty for what? They bring this upon themselves when they join. Why not do something positive for the kids in your hoood instead of teaching them how 2 carry guns, and sell drugs in the street corners?May b this will help safe lifes! I feel bad 4 their parents. Those that loose their children over this type of nonsense!! Then there r those parents who r no help. They raise them in the ghetto and instead of teaching them the right way, they teach them the ghetto ways.. Why? Lets start changing that! That will help save a kids life!!!!!

[RUTH ROSAS]

MY NAME IS RUTH ROSAS AND SERGIO WAS MY BROTHER AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT HE WAS A GOOD SON AND A GOOD BROTHER AND HE DIDNT DESERVE TO BE KILLED THAT WAY IF U ASK ME "THE REAL CRIMINALS ARE THE LAPD BECAUSE THEY DONT SEE THAT THESE SO CALL GANGBANGERS HAVE FAMILY THAT LOVE THEM JUST LIKE OFFICERS DO" I KNOW THAT THE OFFICERS THAT HAVE TEENEGERS WOULDNT WANT THEM TO BE SHOT DOWN LIKE MY BROTHER WAS BECAUSE THEN THE COPS WOULD BE DOING THEIR JOB RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!