Bartholomew Roberts
Member
Soon Ja Du was a Korean immigrant who became a naturalized citizen in 1976. By working hard, both her and her husband managed to acquire enough money to purchase two liquor stores in LA. Friends warned them both stores were in bad areas. Their stores saw almost 40 shoplifting incidents a week as well as several robberies. In 1981, Du's husband purchased a .38 S&W revolver with a 2" barrel from a friend. He never fired the weapon or trained anyone else in his family in its use. The weapon was stolen in a robbery in 1990 and later returned by police.
On March 16, 1991, Soon Ja Du went to work in the family liquor store. She normally worked at a different store; but her son Joseph had testified against the local gang (Main Street Crips) in a robbery case and they had threatened his life. He was afraid to work in that store.
Several young teens entered the store, two girls (15yr old Latasha Harlins and 13yr old Lakeshia), and Latasha's younger brother. Latasha placed a bottle of orange juice in her backpack where it was partially visible and proceeded to the checkout counter. Accounts vary; but all agree Du accused Latasha of shoplifting and attempted to take the orange juice from the backpack.
Latasha punched Du twice in the eye, causing Du to fall backwards with the backpack and the orange juice to fall on the floor. Du testified she felt she would die if Latasha struck her again. She threw a stool at the girl (which missed) and then attempted to retrieve the .38 from a holster under the counter.
Latasha picked up the orange juice and placed it on the counter. As she was turning to leave, Du knocked the orange juice back onto the floor and shot Latasha in the back of the head from a distance of 3'. LAPD weapons experts would later testify that the gun had a crudely altered trigger job that dramatically reduced the trigger pull and caused the safety mechanism (transfer bar) to sometimes not function properly.
Du was indicted on criminal charges. During her trial she claimed both self-defense and that she did not intend to shoot Latasha but fired accidentally. Anyone want to guess the outcome?
On March 16, 1991, Soon Ja Du went to work in the family liquor store. She normally worked at a different store; but her son Joseph had testified against the local gang (Main Street Crips) in a robbery case and they had threatened his life. He was afraid to work in that store.
Several young teens entered the store, two girls (15yr old Latasha Harlins and 13yr old Lakeshia), and Latasha's younger brother. Latasha placed a bottle of orange juice in her backpack where it was partially visible and proceeded to the checkout counter. Accounts vary; but all agree Du accused Latasha of shoplifting and attempted to take the orange juice from the backpack.
Latasha punched Du twice in the eye, causing Du to fall backwards with the backpack and the orange juice to fall on the floor. Du testified she felt she would die if Latasha struck her again. She threw a stool at the girl (which missed) and then attempted to retrieve the .38 from a holster under the counter.
Latasha picked up the orange juice and placed it on the counter. As she was turning to leave, Du knocked the orange juice back onto the floor and shot Latasha in the back of the head from a distance of 3'. LAPD weapons experts would later testify that the gun had a crudely altered trigger job that dramatically reduced the trigger pull and caused the safety mechanism (transfer bar) to sometimes not function properly.
Du was indicted on criminal charges. During her trial she claimed both self-defense and that she did not intend to shoot Latasha but fired accidentally. Anyone want to guess the outcome?
