Vern here: This is published under Luis Huang’s name because he will be writing about this police murder victim, who was killed August 9 at 10 AM by Tustin police, 5 miles from Huang’s Irvine home. His name, first discovered by Luis’ friend Love Cameron, is Luis Manuel Garcia, and he had two daughters. No doubt the Tustin police “feared for their lives” when they saw this unarmed homeless man emerge from some bushes and “approach them,” and had no choice but to open fire on him. Good thing that under the new AB 1506 this case will be investigated by the State Attorney General, Rob Bonta, because you just know DA Spitzer would find a way to justify the killing after 14 months of procrastination.
Following – the initial Aug. 10 news story from The Times‘ Melissa Gomez, an open letter from Luis Huang, and an announcement of Monday’s Candlelight Vigil. Huang will be investigating and writing about this case further on the Orange Juice Blog:
State Department of Justice is investigating fatal shooting by Tustin Police
by Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, August 10, 2021
The state Department of Justice said Tuesday that it will investigate and review a case in which a Tustin police officer fatally shot a man.
About 10 a.m. Monday, Tustin police officers were responding to a report of a suspicious person near the 15400 block of Williams Street when a man “quickly came out of the bushes,” the Tustin Police Department said in a statement. The man was “advancing on the officers,” and one fatally shot him, the department said.
The man, who has not been identified, died at a hospital.
Following protocol, the police department notified the DOJ about the shooting. The California Police Shooting Investigation Team was deployed and is investigating the case.
The DOJ’s authority to investigate the shooting falls under AB 1506, which took effect July 1; the law allows the department to review police shootings involving unarmed people for potential criminal liability.
California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta launched the investigation team in July. Bonta said that based on historic trends, he expects the team to investigate 40 to 50 fatal police shootings a year. The DOJ is reviewing another shooting involving two Los Angeles police officers.
Tustin Police Sgt. Matt Nunley said Tuesday night that the police department will cooperate with the independent investigation.
Open Letter from Luis M. Huang
To: Tustin Mayor Letitia Clark,
Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan,
CC Tustin Police Chief Hamel
Hope this email finds you well. The Garcia family is not doing well. My friends and allies are shedding tears and suffering insomnia.
Right now, this movement against Police Shooting Death by GSW from Law Enforcement Firearm (AB1506) is known only to a few concerned civilians… But this movement will grow. That’s my personal guarantee.
There is universal consensus amongst Dems and GOP and NPP and BLM and BIPOC and Homeless Advocates and M4A AB1400 and mental health advocates and human rights and civil rights attorneys and Cable News and opinion outlets etc etc etc: Unarmed victims should NOT be murdered by Law Enforcement Peace officers. Full Stop. (Akin to G. Floyd murder felony conviction of 2nd Degree unintentional homicide.)
Those who want some justice and dignity and peace of mind and vigil for Mr. Luis Manuel Garcia, I doubt we can rest. We look to our leaders. Now. For leadership. For healing. For something. Can we receive some assistance on a Candlelight Vigil? Can the Garcia family receive some information as to the whereabouts of Mr. Garcia? Can they receive some counseling??
Thank you.
Pained and Powerless, Luis M. Huang, Civilian, Husband, Irvine resident – August 19, 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/events/556572282190689
Candlelight Vigil for Luis Manuel Garcia
Monday August 23, 6 PM
15400 Williams St, Tustin, CA 92780
Please join us in a candlelight vigil/protest for an unarmed member of our community who was shot and killed by Tustin PD on Aug. 9, 2021. He was struggling with homelessness and mental health issues. We don’t have much detail about this because the cops are not releasing any information and the family is in the dark. We need the truth. We want justice! No justice? No peace! Monday, Aug 23rd will be 2 weeks! Bring a candle and a sign and help us get some answers and maybe closure for the family.
Correction: All the credit goes to local activist and friend, she goes by Cameron, Love Cameron has been in direct contact with the family members (I have their contact but I am giving the family space.)
Thanks to all.
See you at 6PM we will light a candle ️ at the spot where a member of our community was gunned down in broad daylight on Tustin.
Luis
949-591-9089
So sad. I have been worried, it was a homeless person I know. Thankful that it isn’t. Without knowing more facts, I won’t comment but to say Rip Luis.
I live nearby and was there after the shooting. There was talk that he had a weapon (knife) but TPD has been quiet about everything…even the victim’s name. Prayers for the family .
We’re putting in a public records act request, as are others. I did hear that somebody had told the police Luis might have a knife, but he didn’t. Confirming the fact that he didn’t is that AB 1506, calling in the AG, only kicks in if the victim is unarmed.
Today I met a LOT of his family, and he did have a LOT of family. I also saw where he lived, behind a bush, which with the wall behind it created a very nice and private bedroom (which seems to already have been taken over by another homeless guy.)
His family says he was a very NEAT and PEACEFUL homeless guy, they talked to him all the time, but he just preferred to live the way he did, walking up and down the street most of the day. His nickname was “Pelon” (Baldy.)
Tomorrow, Saturday Aug 28 at noon, Luis’ family and friends are having a protest in front of the Tustin Police Station, at 300 Centennial Way. (They don’t like the word “protest,” they’re still calling it a “candlelight vigil” even though it’s at noon.)
https://www.facebook.com/events/819867452049699?ref=newsfeed
The Tustin Police Station is just northwest of Newport and Main.
I think the family and friends and other supporters should show up at the next Tustin City Council meeting to demand answers. That’s Tuesday Sept 7 at 6pm, and it looks like their City Hall has the same address as their police station – 300 Centennial Way!
Maybe it will look like this time in 2014, memorialized by the Voice of OC, when the friends and family of wrongly-killed Robert Villa took over the Tustin Council meeting: https://voiceofoc.org/2014/02/dozens-shout-protests-against-fatal-shooting-by-tustin-police/
We’re aware now of four Tustin Police killings in the last decade. They all seemed unnecessary but were justified by the DA. Four in ten years sure isn’t as bad as Anaheim, but Tustin has a lot less people!
Luis, killed Aug. 9.
Edwin Fuentes, Army veteran with PTSD, shot and killed 2017
https://www.ocregister.com/2017/05/16/tustin-police-shoot-man-after-hours-long-standoff-his-condition-unknown/
Robert Villa, 2014, wrongly accused or suspected of having a knife, shot by TPD in his front yard in front of his mother. https://www.ocweekly.com/ocda-clears-tustin-police-in-fatal-shooting-of-robert-villa-6455860/
And Paul Quintanar, 2011, who was so scared by something the police said or did to him that he ran onto the freeway and was killed. His mother Marie Sales has a civil trial coming up.
I think they should all show up to Council Sept. 7.
The Voice’s Brandon showed up to the protest Satuday; I didn’t see him but I was late and he was probably on time. His story mostly leaves out Luis’ first name. https://voiceofoc.org/2021/08/tustin-police-face-questions-state-probe-and-family-protests-over-killing-of-homeless-man/
A relative of Luis’ has finally tracked down a witness; if I can get in touch with that witness I’ll write another story. What the witness said was that it was a female cop who, startled by Luis’ quick exit from the bush, reflexively shot him fatally. Female or not, that person shouldn’t have a gun. According to the witness the cop “totally freaked out” when she realized what she’d done, and had to be cared for by her partners… but I’ll get more details.
I think I have convinced them to show up in force at Sept 7’s Tustin Council meeting, as Robert Villa’s family did seven years ago.
New chant:
No justice, no peace.
His name was Luis.
No racist police!