Friends and family to rally for Inglewood man slain by deputies

Friends and family of an unarmed man who was fatally shot by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies two months ago plan to rally Saturday afternoon at the site of the shooting.

Jose de la Trinidad of Inglewood was shot and killed on Nov. 10 at the corner of east 122nd Street and Wilmington Avenue in Compton. A group will convene at the site at 1 p.m. and will march more than two miles to the Compton sheriff's station, said Rita Alanis, the sister-in-law of De la Trinidad.

“We just want to be heard, we want justice,” she said.

The 36-year-old father of two was shot to death shortly after he left his niece’s quinceanera with his older brother, Francisco.

Sheriff's deputies attempted to stop Francisco for speeding but instead he led the officers on a brief chase. When Franciso finally stopped, Jose exited the vehicle and was shot.

What exactly prompted deputies to open fire is a matter of dispute, however. Sheriff’s officials maintain the man was reaching for his waistband and that deputies, fearing he had a weapon, shot him. He was unarmed.

But a witness told de la Trinidad's family and the Times  that he had his hands over his head before shots were fired.

Alanis described her brother-in-law as a “fun-loving” young man. “He loved life,” she said.

“He strived for better.”

The shooting remains under investigation.

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-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo: Jocelynn, 6, right, and Ariana, 3, with their mother, Rosie, who holds a photo of her wedding with Jose de la Trinidad. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times