Los Angeles(Thechieftainspear) – The family of a transgender woman fatally shot by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has filed a lawsuit against the city, arguing that officers used unnecessary and excessive force during the incident.
Linda Becerra Moran, 30, was shot by police on February 7 at a motel in Pacoima and succumbed to her injuries 20 days later. Her death has sparked outrage among her family and the LGBTQ+ community, who believe the situation could have been handled differently.
The lawsuit alleges that the officers’ response was unjustified and violated Moran’s civil rights. Leigh LaChapelle, Associate Director of Survivor Advocacy at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (Cast), criticized the police’s actions, stating, “Linda should still be here. We must continue fighting to ensure that survivors are not forced to rely on systems that endanger them.”
According to LAPD, officers from the Foothill Division were called to the motel on San Fernando Road after receiving a report about a potential kidnapping suspect. However, Moran’s family maintains that she was the one who called 911, seeking help after experiencing sexual and physical abuse at the hands of her trafficker.
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During the encounter, Moran reportedly picked up a knife and held it to her own neck. Officers ordered her to drop the weapon, but she did not comply and allegedly moved toward them. Police claim this prompted the shooting, but the family’s attorney, Denisse Gastélum, disputes that claim, insisting that Moran never threatened officers.
“She was in clear distress, experiencing a mental health crisis. The only danger she posed was to herself,” Gastélum stated. “Under state law, they could have detained her in a humane way without resorting to deadly force.”
Moran was taken to a hospital but later died from her wounds.
Advocates have condemned the handling of the situation, saying it reflects a broader issue of law enforcement responding with force instead of support for vulnerable individuals. “Time and again, resources are funneled into policing rather than solutions like housing, economic opportunities, and harm reduction,” LaChapelle said.
When contacted for comment, the LAPD declined to provide further details, citing ongoing litigation .
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