LA police, seeking 'transparency,' show evidence in shooting of Black 13 Year Old

• Message is basically please Don't Riot

Police officials, trying to show openness in the face of high community concern, took the unusual step Wednesday of revealing physical evidence from the scene where an officer fatally shot a 13-year-old black youth who was driving a stolen car that backed into the police car after a brief chase. Police Chief William Bratton said the investigative information released at a televised news conference was intended to fulfill a promise of delivering "as much transparency as we can provide." Officials also said that, at the Police Department's request, the FBI joined the investigation into the killing of Devin Brown shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday in South Los Angles. The evidence was detailed for the public after officials showed it to the area's City Council representative and to more than 50 members of clergy from the area. South Los Angeles residents and leaders of the African American community expressed outrage over the shooting, which followed a brief pursuit.  "The residents are very disturbed over this tragic and needless shooting," said John Mack, president of the Los Angeles Urban League. "We have a pattern here where some police officers don't value the lives of young African American males. There's a frustration here that's building up and makes it difficult to build a partnership with police."  Dozens of area residents gathered in protest Monday around the corner of West 83rd Street and South Western Avenue where Devin was shot. At a makeshift memorial site, placards and notes were left criticizing officers for heavy-handed police work. "LAPD, thank you for giving us another reason for disliking your service," read one.  Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) urged the community to "demand justice and become even more creative in ways to shame the establishment for tolerating this kind of abuse in our city." [more] and [more]

• Pictured above: In this copy photo taken from a television screen show at a news conference on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2005, conducted by Los Anegeles Police Chief Michael Barkow and Deputy Chief Michael Berkow at the Los Angeles Police Department, a Los Angeles Police car is seen next to a suspect's vehicle after an officer was involved in a shooting early Sunday. Bratton and Berkow spoke with reporters about the details of the fatal police shooting of a 13-year-old suspected car thief. [more]
• Latino Man Shotby LA Police  Trying to Douse Himself with Gasoline [more]