A grand jury's decision this week not to indict an officer who killed a Latino man after mistaking his soda can for a gun has outraged this city's minority community and could lead to a federal civil rights investigation of the Denver Police Department.The incident was one in a string of deadly shootings by police in black and Latino neighborhoods. Outside Denver police headquarters Friday, protesters shouted, "No justice, no peace, control your police!" while holding signs that read: "A soda pop is not a gun!" "I believe the Denver Police Department has been violating the civil rights of citizens of this city for over 30 years," said Kenneth Padilla, attorney for the family of Frank Lobato, the man killed. "They know they can get away with murder, that they will not be prosecuted or held accountable." The Justice Department is looking into the case, and Padilla said the family might file a civil suit against the city. "The FBI and Justice Department will review the findings of the Denver district attorney, and that review will look at potential violations of civil rights," said Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Denver. The Lobato shooting occurred July 11 after police responded to a domestic violence call in a west Denver housing project. When they found the front door locked, Officer Ranjan Ford Jr. climbed a ladder and entered the brick row house through a second-floor window. Once inside, he found Lobato, 63, who was not the suspect, lying in bed, watching television. Investigators said Ford mistook the can Lobato was holding for a gun; Lobato was killed by a shot to the chest. The case reminded residents in this city's minority neighborhoods of the shooting death of 15-year-old Paul Childs. The developmentally disabled black youth was killed while holding a knife last year. [more]
- Pictured above: Lobato family lawyer Ken Padilla,
second from left, speaks Friday in front of Denver police headquarters.
With him are activist LeRoy Lemos, left; Maxine Warren-Martinez, Frank
Lobato's niece; and Michael Thompson, uncle of Paul Childs. Childs, 15,
also was killed by a Denver officer [more]
- Director of Public Safety to issue Lobato report [more]
- Shooting probe to stay secret[more]
- Family Of Slain Man Protests DA Decision Not To Charge Shooter [more]