Two Torrance police officers face voluntary manslaughter charges in the 2018 shooting death of a Black man sitting in a reportedly stolen car even though an earlier investigation by the previous district attorney cleared the police of any wrongdoing.
The charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 11 years in prison, were contained in a grand jury indictment released Monday, April 17, against Officer Matthew Concannon and former Officer Anthony Chavez. Both pleaded not guilty to the shooting of 23-year-old Christopher DeAndre Mitchell, who was killed while sitting in the vehicle with a modified air rifle between his legs.
Mitchell’s death prompted widespread protests in the community by Black Lives Matter activists and an investigation in 2019 by then-District Attorney Jackie Lacey. Her successor, George Gascon, reopened the probe and appointed Lawrence Middleton as a special prosecutor.
At a Monday news conference, Gascon declined to answer questions about whether the revived investigation found any new evidence, saying only, “I question whether the officers were able to see the gun before the shooting.”
Gascon also said the charges would not bring back Mitchell, but may offer a measure of justice to his family.
Mitchell’s mother, Sherlyn Haynes, said at the news conference that she looked forward to the court process and ultimately seeing the two officers in jail.
“They murdered my son within 15 seconds, didn’t give him no chance, no chance at all,” Haynes said.
Attorneys for Concannon and Chavez said the prosecution was politically motivated and an abuse of prosecutorial power.
“Our client was formally cleared of all wrongdoing in 2019. This was after a meticulous and thorough investigation conducted by the LADA’s Office,” said Lisa Houle, Concannon’s attorney, in a written statement. “There is outrage today among many who participated in that process and continue to believe strongly in our client’s innocence.”
Tom Yu, Chavez’s lawyer, echoed those sentiments, adding, “I look forward to fighting this case in court.”
At the news conference with Gascon, civil rights lawyer Je Yon Jung, said she helped the district attorney identify police shooting investigations that needed to be reopened. The Mitchell shooting stood out among those that had potential deficiencies in the investigation, she said.
Mitchell, 23, was confronted in the parking lot of a Carson Street supermarket in Old Torrance as he sat behind the wheel of a car that had been reported stolen. Between his legs was what appeared to be a firearm, said the initial district attorney’s report, but actually was a Crosman Phantom 1000 air rifle with a modified butt stock.
As officers approached the car, they told Mitchell to keep his hands on the steering wheel, but he instead moved them toward his lap, according to the previous report by prosecutors who cleared police. Officers also told Mitchell to get out of the car, but he refused, the report said.
Officers fired three times at Mitchell in a shooting captured on video by Concannon’s body-worn camera. Just 12 seconds passed from the time the officer activated his camera as he opened Mitchell’s car door to the time of the first shot.
“Based on Mitchell’s failure to follow the officers’ directions, his continued efforts to conceal the object in his lap, the physical appearance of the object, and the movement of his hands toward the object, it was reasonable for the officers to believe that the object was a firearm and to respond with deadly force,” the district attorney’s previous report said.
The shooting drew protests for months at City Council meetings from Black Lives Matter activists demanding first that police release the video of the deadly encounter and, later, that the officers be held accountable.
A statement from Torrance police spokesperson Sgt. Ron Salary said the indictment “comes as a shock” to the police force.
Ultimately, he noted, the merit of the criminal allegations will be determined through due process in a court of law. Salary asked for the support of the community as that process moves forward.
Related links
2 Torrance officers indicted in 2018 fatal shooting of Black man
DA exonerates Torrance police officers in fatal shooting that sparked Black Lives Matter protests
Black Lives Matter activists poised to mark police shooting death anniversary of DeAndre Mitchell
Torrance releases body camera footage from controversial fatal shooting
Video of police shooting of DeAndrew Mitchell
Concannon and Chavez have been tied to other on-duty shootings as well.
Concannon was involved in the 2011 nonfatal shooting of Jeremiah Banks during a vehicle pursuit. Banks received a 15-year prison sentence after he was subsequently convicted on two counts of robbery and one count of felony evading, but he also received a $100,000 settlement from the city after filing a lawsuit while incarcerated.
Chavez was one of five Torrance officers exonerated by the District Attorney’s Office for their roles in the fatal 2017 shooting of a San Gabriel man shot 23 times in the wake of a high-speed pursuit.
Chavez and Concannon also are reportedly linked to racist and homophobic text messages sent among Torrance officers and under investigation by the state Attorney General’s Office. At least four Torrance officers involved in the texting scandal have been terminated by the department.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.