LAPD accused of firing recklessly into a crowd, killing Trader Joe's manager
The Los Angeles Police Department is facing a lawsuit that claims their officers' actions led to the 2018 death of a Trader Joe's manager.
"They can say it's an accident. They can say it's a stray bullet, whatever it is," said brother Albert Corado. "The fact remains that she is dead."
Mely Corado was a store manager at Trader Joe's on Hyperion in Silver Lake. She was caught in the crossfire between two LAPD officers and a suspect they were pursuing. Police body camera shows officers firing back a reported eight rounds at suspect Gene Atkins as he ran into the store.
Officers hit him in the left arm but one of their bullets also struck Mely, killing her.
"I know who killed Mel and I don't think it was Gene Atkins," said Corado. "It was LAPD."
The Corado family filed a lawsuit against the LAPD and the city of Los Angeles alleging the officers opened fire recklessly. Their lawyer said the department is withholding its Internal Force Investigation Division report, which would detail the officer's explanations of why they opened fire in a crowded area, until the Atkins trial is over.
"We've agreed to even accept that report under protective order, keep it confidential," said attorney Neil Gehlawat. "There really would be no harm other than to allow us and our clients the full access to everything that happened so we could really prosecute the case."
That case is expected to go before a jury in October. Until then, Corado said he won't stop fighting for his sister.
"She was at work and went to go check on someone she thought was in trouble and she lost her life," Corado said. "It makes a lot of people angry but also puts fear in them and could that be me?"
On Saturday, Corado's family members and friends gathered to hold a rally and call for some sort of action from LAPD.
"Excuse my language, but I don't give a s— about money," Corado's father Albert Sr. said. "I don't care about money. Can I get my daughter back? Cause I'd rather get my daughter than a bunch of money."
Corado's brother, echoed that sentiment, calling for more accountability when it comes to repercussions for law enforcement.
"They have never taken responsibility for what happened that day," Albert Jr. said. "I wanna know when we're gonna have that conversation about, 'What are we gonna do about LAPD?' Because, they do whatever they want and they get away with it and we're supposed to live with the aftermath."
KCAL News asked the District Attorney's Office for comment, who said they do not comment on pending litigation.
Upon request for a statement, LAPD said:
"It is with deep sorrow that the Los Angeles Police Department recognizes the five year anniversary of the officer involved shooting incident at the Trader Joe's in Silver Lake. Our heartfelt thoughts and sympathies go out to the Corado family and the others who experienced or suffered any trauma as a result of the incident. Reverence for human life is a core value of the Department and we recognize the tremendous loss suffered by the Corado family and their friends.
As with all Officer Involved Shootings, the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) and the Office of Inspector General thoroughly reviewed the investigation. The BOPC found this officer involved shooting to be within Department policy, albeit tragic. Due to pending civil litigation we are limited in our disclosure however; we want to assure our communities that this incident is not taken lightly. The Department is committed to being honest and transparent and will continue in that vein regarding this incident to the extent permissible."
