Man Killed By Los Angeles Police Was Drunk And Holding A Water Spigot
Posted By
Editor on Dec 13, 2010 11:49pm PST
A man who was intoxicated was shot by police while standing outside his friend's apartment. Two officers had taken cover and were waiting for backup when Douglas Zerby pointed what they thought was a gun at one of them. Both officers shot him in the stomach and he died at the scene.
The LAPD was responding to a report of a man standing in the courtyard of an apartment complex brandishing a gun. The spigot was black with a metal barrel and did indeed look like a gun.
Photo credit to latimes.com
Zerby's sister is appalled by the killing. "Our brother was killed for no reason," she said. "We're outraged. You can't get drunk in the city of Long Beach and not get shot? You're trying to do the responsible thing and not drive and you get shot? Is that standard protocol? They didn't wait for backup, they just shot him."
Apparently Zerby often waited in the area for a friend to come home so that he didn't drive drunk. The neighbor who called was new to the building and had never seen him before.
Although this is a tragedy, it is not uncommon for this type of case to go to trial as a murder case. If the officer are accused of murder, they should call Los Angeles Murder Defense Attorney Robert Michael Helfend. With his years of dedicated and personal service to the people of Ventura County, Robert Helfend has been able to see great success in the outcomes of his cases.
Contact Ventura County Defense Attorney Robert Helfend the moment charges are filed in any case against you in the Los Angeles area.