LAPD chief promises thorough probe into shooting

Demonstrators had hung posters with Spanish slogans that said: "The people demand accountability," "No more murders," and "The police murdered a day laborer and we demand justice."

Juana Neri, 57, a Mexican immigrant housewife who lives nearby, pushed her grocery bag in a baby stroller past the corner where Jamines was killed.

"It's bad, what the police did, but what's worse is the silly stuff that people were doing here," she said, referring to Monday's violence. "We are not in our country, and with the problems that Hispanic immigrants have these days, it's better not to cause problems."

Lt. Andrew Neiman said Monday's peaceful candlelight vigil escalated to violence because a group handing out fliers for the Revolutionary Communist Party rallied the crowd with a bullhorn until the police declared an unlawful assembly.

"They were antagonistic, vocal and derogatory to the police," Neiman said. "They tie themselves to immigrants' rights protests, and people who live there say they're not from the community."

A telephone listing for the Revolutionary Communist Party could not be found.

Beck said the brawling was caused by several factors.

"First, we understand this is an emotional issue and we need to get the facts out. Second, there's the outside agitators. And finally, it was the third day of a three-day weekend and some people in the crowd had been drinking," he said.

The police union issued a statement Tuesday calling the shooting a "tragic incident" and saying community activists were trying to stir up controversy.

"Getting drunk and threatening bystanders and then LAPD officers with a knife is dangerous and self-destructive in any language," the Los Angeles Police Protective League's statement said. "This was not and should not be a controversial shooting."

MacArthur Park was the site of a May 1, 2007, clash in which police officers pummeled immigration rights marchers and reporters with batons and shot rubber bullets into the crowd. Dozens of protesters and journalists were injured. Police said it began with a group of "agitators" outside the park throwing objects at officers.


The Associated Press


