Los Angeles police Saturday recognized the five-year-anniversary of the officer-involved shooting at a Trader Joe’s in Silver Lake that claimed the life of Melyda Corado, an assistant store manager.
“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,” the LAPD Media Relations department wrote in a statement issued Saturday.
The fatal shooting resulted in the arrest of then 28-year-old Gene Evin Atkins.
Atkins had fired at pursuing officers before fleeing into the store and taking hostages. The officer who fired the fateful round that killed Corado was not and will not be disciplined, according to the department. The OIS was investigated by the Board of Police Commission and the Office of Inspector General. The BOPC claimed to find the killing tragic but within policy guidelines.
“We are limited in our disclosures,” according to the department-issued statement, citing the pending civil litigation. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office determined the two involved officers were justified in using deadly force and would not face criminal charges.
The deceased’s family, however, sued the two officers and the department. Recently, a judge ruled the lawsuit could move forward.
Atkins was charged with 51 crimes including murder and two counts of attempted murder of a police officer, along with several counts of false imprisonment of the hostages. His bail was raised from $18.7 million to $23 million.