LAPD Officer
Reviewed in Fatal Police Shooting Case
LAPD Officer Decertification is now under formal review following a fatal police shooting involving a mentally ill man in Los Angeles, marking the first known case in California where the state is considering revoking officers’ certifications over an on-duty shooting.
The case is drawing renewed attention because of its similarities to the death of Yang Yong, a Korean American man fatally shot by LAPD officers during a mental health crisis response. Federal and county lawsuits related to Yang’s death are currently ongoing, with LAPD Olympic Division Officer Andres Lopez and Sgt. Araceli Rubalcava named among the defendants.
According to the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, a civilian advisory board last month recommended the decertification of two LAPD officers — Jose Zavala and Julio Quintanilla — in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of Margarito Lopez Jr.
The recommendation was first reported by the Los Angeles Times on May 2. It is reportedly the first time California authorities have reviewed whether officers involved in a shooting should lose their policing credentials.
LAPD Officer Decertification Could Set Statewide Precedent
The full POST commission is expected to make a final decision next month on whether the officers should be stripped of their certifications.
During the review, the civilian advisory panel concluded that the victim did not pose a sufficient threat at the time of the shooting and that the officers used excessive force.
The incident occurred on Dec. 18, 2021, outside an apartment building in Historic South Central.
Family members had called 911 because they feared Lopez Jr., who suffered from mental illness, might harm himself. LAPD officers responded to the scene and spent more than 10 minutes ordering him to drop a knife.
Authorities said Lopez Jr. displayed unstable behavior during the standoff, including holding the knife to his own neck. Officers later fired less-lethal rounds. After Lopez Jr. became emotionally agitated and moved toward officers, Zavala and Quintanilla opened fire with live ammunition.
Lopez Jr. was transported to a hospital but later died from his injuries.
Civil Lawsuit Resulted in $8 Million Award
The victim’s family later sued the city and won an $8 million judgment. Despite the civil ruling, the two officers only received relatively minor discipline — unpaid suspensions of 10 days and five days, respectively.
The case was also referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for potential criminal prosecution review, which remains ongoing.
The current proceedings stem from California’s Senate Bill 2, commonly known as SB 2, which took effect in 2021. The law allows authorities to revoke police certification in cases involving excessive force, dishonesty, sexual misconduct, and other serious violations.
Meanwhile, a memorial rally marking the second anniversary of Yang Yong’s death was held on May 2 outside the United States District Court for the Central District of California, where demonstrators again called for accountability in police use-of-force incidents.
Yang Min, the victim’s father, said the federal lawsuit seeks not only accountability for his son’s death but also answers regarding whether constitutional rights were violated during the police response.
“As officer-involved shootings continue to happen repeatedly, this lawsuit was filed in hopes of preventing similar tragedies in the future,” he said.
