Thursday, May 14, 2009

Family of slain LA teen sue county, sheriff

Family of slain LA teen sue county, sheriff

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Relatives of a high school football player who was murdered, allegedly by an illegal immigrant, have sued Los Angeles County for wrongful death.

The parents and brother of Jamiel Shaw filed the lawsuit Friday, seeking unspecified damages.

They say the county and sheriff’s department were negligent and violated immigration laws and their civil rights by allowing the alleged killer, Pedro Espinoza, out of jail.

He had been in custody on weapons charges and was released a day before the March 2, 2008, killing.

The suspected gang member has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore declined to comment on the lawsuit’s specifics but says he’s pleased the full story will be told.

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