Niani Finlayson: Seeking Justice for Another Tragic Loss

It has been more than a month since the tragic death of Niani Finlayson, who was fatally shot by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy in Lancaster, California, while her 9-year-old daughter watched in horror. As her grieving mother prepares to lay her youngest child to rest, community activists are demanding justice and transparency from the law enforcement agency that is meant to protect and serve them.

On December 4, a frantic 911 call was made reporting a domestic violence incident involving Finlayson. Desperate and terrified, she pleaded for help as she asked a man to leave her ground-floor apartment after he had allegedly pushed her daughter. The exact nature of their relationship remains unclear.

One week after the sheriff’s department released limited portions of body camera footage and audio recordings of Finlayson’s cries for help, protests erupted. These final moments of Finlayson’s life have left community activists with more questions than answers, raising concerns about the systemic culture of violence perpetuated by law enforcement against Black individuals in Los Angeles County. Shockingly, Finlayson’s death marks the second time Deputy Ty Shelton, the sole shooter in this case, has killed a Black person within a span of three years.

Waunette Cullors, co-founder of Cancel the Contract, a community-led advocacy organization against police violence, expressed her frustration, saying, “We’ve heard countless stories about Black women and the LA County sheriff’s department. It’s as if there’s some sort of initiation they subject Black women to. They simply don’t care. And it’s all captured on film.” Cancel the Contract is offering support and resources to Finlayson’s grieving family during this difficult time.

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The Tragic Events Leading to Niani Finlayson’s death

Los Angeles County deputies arrived at Finlayson’s residence shortly after 6 p.m., where they could hear an ongoing domestic violence incident through the walls. Within seconds of their arrival, four shots were fired.

Finlayson, who had just celebrated her 27th birthday two weeks earlier, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The county’s medical examiner ruled her death a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. She leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter who will now grow up without her mother.

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The body camera footage released by the sheriff’s department provides a limited perspective, captured from Deputy Shelton and an unidentified female deputy. According to Bradley C. Gage, Finlayson’s family attorney, the department only released a fraction of the 16-minute 911 call and an edited compilation of the deputies’ body camera footage. Gage criticized the department’s selective presentation, calling it a self-serving attempt to cover up any potential wrongdoing. He referred to it as a “new code of silence” employed by law enforcement to deceive the public.

Both Cancel the Contract and Finlayson’s family are demanding the release of the complete recordings, as well as the termination and decertification of Deputy Shelton to prevent him from being rehired by another law enforcement agency in the state. They believe that full transparency and accountability are necessary to ensure justice for Finlayson.

The released footage starts with neither officer announcing their presence as Finlayson’s voice grows increasingly desperate. The sheriff’s department acknowledged that the deputies failed to announce themselves before attempting to enter Finlayson’s home.

The female deputy tried to force open the blue door but was unsuccessful. Finlayson, armed with a knife, eventually opened the door and threatened to stab the man she had called 911 on for allegedly assaulting her daughter. As Shelton followed the female deputy into Finlayson’s apartment, he requested her stun gun, a de-escalation tool, which she handed to him.

Cancel the Contract’s Cullors questioned the deputies’ actions, asking, “Why didn’t they separate them when it was a domestic violence call? They had a Taser, so why didn’t they use it? Why didn’t they attempt to de-escalate the situation by telling Finlayson to put the knife down?”

As Finlayson approached the man with the knife in hand, Shelton switched from holding the stun gun to his service weapon.

Gage, who has been involved in civil rights cases related to law enforcement and police brutality in Los Angeles County since 1985, highlighted the fact that Finlayson had the knife in her possession for at least 16 minutes during the 911 call. He questioned why, if she intended to harm the man, she did not do so during that time. His implication is that the use of lethal force was unnecessary.

Without uttering a single word, Shelton opened fire.

As Finlayson’s lifeless body fell to the ground, her alleged aggressor exclaimed, “Why did you shoot?”

In response to the tragic incident, Finlayson’s family has filed paperwork indicating their intention to sue the sheriff’s department and the county for $30 million. The funds would cover mental health support, funeral and burial expenses, as well as an independent investigation into the incident.

Deputy Ty Shelton: A Troubling Pattern of Fatal Encounters

As various law enforcement agencies investigate the circumstances surrounding Finlayson’s death, the sheriff’s department has stated that they will thoroughly examine every aspect of the shooting, including the response, tactics, and background of the involved deputy.

Of particular concern in Shelton’s background is his involvement in another fatal shooting in June 2020. At the time, Shelton had been on the job for two years when he killed Michael Thomas while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Lancaster. The sheriff’s department claimed that Shelton opened fire when Thomas allegedly tried to grab a deputy’s pistol. Unfortunately, the incident was not captured on body cameras.

The Justice System Integrity Division launched an investigation into the shooting, which concluded in May 2022. The investigation determined that Shelton had made a wrong decision in choosing to shoot Thomas instead of exploring alternative tactics. However, it also concluded that there was “insufficient evidence” to prove that Shelton acted unlawfully.

Shelton managed to avoid prosecution and, upon returning to work, was promoted to a field training officer. According to records from Transparent California, he earned nearly $200,000 in 2022.

Over the past decade, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has been involved in the deaths of 143 individuals, with charges filed in only five cases, according to the Mapping Police Violence database, which tracks fatal police encounters since 2013.

Thomas’ family has filed a federal lawsuit in which Deputy Shelton is named as a defendant. The trial is scheduled for August, as indicated by online court records. Capital B has reached out to Shelton’s attorneys representing him in the civil lawsuit for a comment.

Richard Pippin, president of the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, issued a statement in an email to Capital B, referring to Shelton’s situation as a dangerous one that deputies often face. Pippin described Finlayson’s case as a “tragic outcome,” resulting from a violent and highly volatile situation.

Following Finlayson’s killing, Deputy Shelton was removed from the field, as per the department’s policy, pending the outcome of the critical incident review.

Gage firmly believes that Deputy Ty Shelton’s actions were unequivocally wrong. He points out that the female deputy had arrived before the third deputy, and yet, it was only Shelton who fired his weapon. Gage asserts that Shelton now bears the responsibility for multiple deaths and should face prosecution.

For now, the grieving family and community activists continue to demand justice for Niani Finlayson, hoping to shed light on the systemic issues within law enforcement and prevent further tragedies.

The post This Mom Is the 2nd Black Person Seeking Help That One Deputy Has killed in 3 Years appeared first on Capital B News.