Off-Duty Officer Shoots at Teen in Anaheim
People Are Beyond Angry After This Off-Duty Officer Fired Shots During Altercation With a 13-Year-Old
Warning: this story contains sensitive material.
Anaheim, CA, residents are rallying to show their support for Christian Dorscht, a 13-year-old boy involved in an an altercation with an off-duty LAPD officer who opened fire. On Feb. 21, the teen was on his way home from school when the officer allegedly swore at one of the boy's female friends for being on his property, according to Fusion. Dorscht reportedly stepped in to defend his friend, saying that he was going to sue the man for his comments. The man thought the 13-year-old said "shoot" rather than "sue," so he attempted to detain the teen by force.
An argument ensued, in which the plainclothes officer held onto the teenager's sweatshirt as the boy repeatedly said, "Let me go!" The 13-year-old defended himself, saying, "I didn't do anything to hurt you. All I said was to respect the girl."
Here is a video that captured part of the altercation:
Man claiming to be police officer grabs young Chicano kid violently and eventually pulls gun out & shoots at kids. Anaheim, Ca 2/21/17 pic.twitter.com/UhMQMsuE1t
— Marina (@oxminaox) February 22, 2017
The incident took place on the man's lawn and quickly escalated when another boy got involved and yet another tackled the officer over the bushes. That's when the off-duty cop pulled out his gun and fired it. The Anaheim Police Department is denying claims that the officer fired at the teen, instead saying that witnesses claim the gun was fired into the ground, reports Fusion. No one was hurt by the gunshot.
The video footage surfaced online and went viral, and many internet users expressed their outrage at the "appalling" incident.
Your job as a "cop" does not make it okay for you to pull out a gun on young teens whenever YOU feel like it #anaheim #anaheimprotest
— MYA (@lulhyphy) February 23, 2017
Doesn't matter if the adult felt threatened or if he was attacked first, you don't pull & flaunt a gun at a child. Period. #anaheimprotest
— N.B. (@BlackJackKNIC) February 23, 2017
I AM an Anaheim resident. THIS STORY IS APPALLING. I am horrified at the non-actions of the Anaheim PD toward the off duty LAPD officer. https://t.co/9l9iVF3CLL
— droid mom (@TaraNotTahra) February 23, 2017
Anaheim residents also took the streets to protest against the officer's actions.
Protesters kneel with their hands up, in front of the police formation on Palais and Euclid in Anaheim. pic.twitter.com/RAjhJKwarl
— Marcus Yam (@yamphoto) February 23, 2017
Protesters take to streets in #Anaheim after off-duty LAPD officer confrontation with teens ends in gunfire. @ABC7 11pm #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/6RjEp3BesN
— Eileen Frere (@abc7eileen) February 23, 2017
A young demonstrator in #Anaheim wraps an American flag around himself as police stand nearby #anaheimprotest pic.twitter.com/X3CBHcl3Ok
— Melissa Etehad اتحاد (@melissaetehad) February 23, 2017
The police told local CBS 8 station that two teens involved in the original altercation were arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery and assault and making criminal threats and released to their parents. Dorscht's father Johnny Dorscht said the family has not decided what legal action they will take against the cop, according to Fusion, but that "something's going to happen because this is not right." He is also calling for police to put themselves in his shoes, asking, "If that was your kid in the video and you knew your kid was doing the right thing, how would you feel?"
The LAPD announced that it's investigating the entire incident and that the officer is now on administrative leave. Supporters of Dorscht have set up a crowdfunding page to raise money for him to "be a kid again."
