Does independent report put Ruben Salazar conspiracy theories to rest?

The killing of journalist Ruben Salazar has became a seminal moment in the Mexican American civil-rights movement.

Now, the first independent report of the incident concludes that Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies committed a series of tactical blunders that led to the 1970 slaying, but there is no evidence they intentionally targeted the newsman.

The report by the Office of Independent Review is the first outside examination of thousands of pages of Sheriff's Department records in the killing. In the end, the report concluded, the journalist simply may have been in the "wrong place at the wrong time" as buildings burned and deputies clashed with protesters on Whittier Boulevard after rioting exploded during a massive anti-Vietnam War rally.

Read Los Angeles Times staff writer Robert Lopez's full story on the report: "No evidence Ruben Salazar was targeted in killing, report says."  Also, check Times programmer Ben Welsh's package of videos, photos, documents and old Times stories at The Ruben Salazar Files: A Times Special Report.

What do you think of the findings? Does it put the controvery over his death to rest?

The Salazar Files

Full coverage of the case.

Comments

[uncle_charlie]

No one cares about this murder. I happened decades ago. Drop it LA Times.

[Paul Espinoza]

No.

[Bob Wilson]

I care about this murder - it affected me and so many of my Chicano friends. I think too much time has passed to reconstruct what actually happened, but I suspect it was incompetence by the cops on scene, not malice. I would go with voluntary manslaughter.

[u know]

it shows exactly what happened

the newsman was drinking on duty

the sheriff deputies did make some mistakes, that's to be expected afterall there was a riot going on

but most of all there was no assination plot

hopefully the conspiracy theory losers can get a life now

[Whophantom]

I was a young Mexican-American in 1970 and remember these events very well. I followed the event and the story for forty years. I cannot under my professional opinion believe & will ever believe that LASD and it's Deputies involved in the killing of Ruben Salazar was a "wrong place @ the wrong time" victim. Fatal mistakes in policy were made and no one was held accountable. No One! I would like to hear Sheriff Baca who was a young "Chicano" deputy himself and probably @ the riots as most "redneck" deputies from other stations who probably never saw a Mexican-American use their Constitutional Right to protest aploligize.
But, let's not forget the instigators of this event who started throwing rocks & debris which severely injured several deputies and failed to disburse and wanted a confrontation for the heavy handed tatics utilized by LASD ELA Station during the many years of policing the community . Many historic personnel changes @ ELA Station were made by Sheriff Pitches after this historic event and "Fort Apache" in years became a symbol of postive law enforcement with "Chicano"/Mexican- American Sheriff's personnel operating the station. Mr. Salazar paid with his life for these and other changes
made in policing "minority communities" and rightly deserves the many allcolades placed upon him. As a retired law enforcement professional, I apoligize to the Salazar family for the unprofessional manner and conduct of the Deputies & investigators involved in a time when Mexican-Americans were looked down upon. Viva La Raza!!!

[T K Nagano]

There were poor tactics by the Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Deputy and the
Forty (40 year delay in providing the documents only fueled the controvery.

"I don't remember, I can't recall...the first casulty is truth.

[O'Brian]

"The Office of Independent Review"

How Orwellian does THAT sound?

[Bob]

Stones were hurled at riot police in uniform. Salazar unfortunately was killed by a tear gas cannister which was intended to disperse the rioters. Stones are a deadly weapon and they can provoke an act of self-defense. Deadly stones were thrown at policemen or guards at Kent State University and the Mexican border bridge near Juarez, resulting in guns being discharged and people dying. Those deaths were thought by many, even until this day, to have resulted from premeditated attacks or conspiricies.

[RENEGADEPOPO]

Ruben Salazar WAS murdered!!! He had the premonition he was going to be taken out and had riled the command staff of the LAPD and SO with his "in their face reporting." History has shown particularly during the civil rights movements of the 60's and 70's, that the FBI and local law enforcement would work in cahoots in targeting certain individuals they had deemed as being dangerous towards the "white racist establishment." The sheriff''s department is only now releasing the files because of political pressure AND BECAUSE someone HAS sanitized the original investigation. As a former LEO detective I am aware that such underhanded tactics DO occur on a regular basis. Look at the daily news articles and crazy crap of cover ups of innocent people being incarcerated because they pissed an egomaniac off. That is exactly what happened to Ruben. He pissed off Davis, had LAPD detectives approaching him telling him to watch out what he prints and also had the FBI keeping careful tabs on him. What made this man so dangerous? On the day of the rally he goes to have some tacos and a beer. The mood in the area is supposedly relaxed. All of a sudden, a guy in a little red vest just walks up and says there's a man with a gun that walked into a bar. The perfect and exact moment had arrived for law enforcement to EXECUTE Ruben F. Salazar!

[u know]

@Bob

if it was the cops that were throwing rocks the LA Times would desribe them as "missles" that were used against the civilian population

[u know]

RENEGADEPOPO

you say you are retired law enforcement?

what department, LAUSD Police Department???