The parents of a 21-year-old man shot and killed by California Highway Patrol officers in February accuse the agency in a new legal action of stalling in turning over documents they maintain are relevant to their investigation of what happened.
The CHP began pursuing Sei-Jah Rivera at 2:30 a.m. Feb. 26 and the chase ended in a cul-de-sac in the 7200 block of Sunnybrae Avenue, just south of Wyandotte Street. Rivera was struck by eight bullets, including three to his upper back, the petition states.
Security cameras recorded the sound of more than a dozen shots fired in rapid succession, lasting less than four seconds, according to the Los Angeles Superior Court petition filed Monday by Rivera’s father and mother, Viliami Langi and Angela Rivera.
The parents need the information in order to file a substantive claim within the statutory six-month period prior to bringing a lawsuit, but the CHP’s delays in providing the needed information are impeding their efforts, the petition states.
“This proceeding is made necessary by the disturbing refusal of the CHP to provide petitioners with even a shred of information about the death of their son at the hands of CHP officers, in disregard for both California law and basic common decency,” the petition states.
The parents want a judge to order all the requested information for an in-chambers inspection by a judge who will then determine which should be turned over to the petitioners.
A CHP representative said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.
Although some media reported the officers claimed to have seen Rivera with a gun, at least two witnesses have told his parents otherwise, the petition states. In reality, the only gun found was located over a high wall in a church parking lot about 30 feet from where Rivera was shot, the petition states.
On March 5, frustrated at the lack of information from the CHP, the parents filed a request through the California Public Records Act for numerous documents and records about the shooting, including emails, text messages, audio recordings, incident reports and other relevant information, the petition states.
Also sought were medical records, photographs and autopsy reports as well as dash- and bodycam footage.
“The delay that the CHP contemplates here will severely prejudice the petitioners’ rights if allowed to stand,” the court request states.