Woodrow Player III, 22 [Updated]

July 10, 2009, 9:17 p.m.

Woodrow Player III, a 22-year-old black man, was shot several times by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies and died on July 10 in the 11200 block of Berendo Avenue in Westmont.

Civil rights leaders called for a federal investigation.

Player was shot as he ran from deputies in the 11200 block of Berendo Avenue about 8:45 p.m. Friday, authorities said.

Photo: Woodrow Player III, 22, pictured with his wife, Tyisha, in a family portrait Investigators said they recovered a gun from Player's car, but witnesses said he was unarmed when deputies shot him in the back.

Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore promised a thorough review of the shooting.

"This will be examined from top to bottom. And if there are any inconsistencies, they will be brought forth," Whitmore said.

But Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, and Eddie Jones of the L.A. Civil Rights Assn. joined Player's relatives Saturday at the place where Player was shot to call for a federal investigation.

"We have no confidence in the Sheriff's Department to investigate itself," Hutchinson said, dismissing the sheriff's Office of Independent Review, which is investigating.

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske

[Update September 29, 2011: Deputies cleared in fatal shooting of man holding cellphone]

Photo: Woodrow Player III, 22, pictured with his wife Tyisha in a family portrait

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16 reader comments

what was the gun doing in his car? if it was there before he was running or not as i see no shots was fired and he did NOT have it on him when he was shot by the officers, So what make you think there probable cause was for shooting in the back while in pursuit? And to the post by..— christian
June 3, 2010 at 4:36 p.m.
you should be saying that on a different post like when illegals come over to the states why there not shot and killed when trying to cross over, unless your one 2! It's all politics and protection of the "Laws" thats still covered up by law enforcement but only few and rare gets caught, you really think it just came to a stop with them? example the forensic scientist that was caught putting innocent people behind bars for stuff that she thought because of a background or she just wanted to leave work! Or how about the woman that worked for the fed's that killed her husband way over a decade ago that just came out? it just gives the next cover up a different and smarter way to do it. if there not armed and just running with no weapon no shots fired, you cant shoot a person in the back. so if your saying thats okay go to a third world country and support that and i bet you wish you was back here and really UNDERSTAND!
BLOODY WANKA!!

— Ajay July 4, 2013 at 5:25 p.m.

@Curious,
Yes, this is the same guy that killed Joseph Watson in 2007.

@anonymous,
This is a public forum and we can say anything we like. Your friend Woodrow is no innocent person. Your pal was acquitted in the killing of Joseph Watson, that's not the same thing as being proven innocent. Joseph fought his whole short life to stay away and out of gangs. But that was something Woodrow could not accept, so he killed him. If Woodrow had been convicted, he most likely would be alive today, he was safer in jail. He was also driving around with a gun in the car the night he ran from the cops and was shot. Great friend. You must be so proud. Woodrow was a sociopath and a gangster. I only feel sorry for his family who have to pick up the pieces this jerk left behind. Maybe now his wife can find a better role model for his two kids. Why was he driving around with a gun in the car instead of being a good father?? Good riddance. His family also filed a wrongful death suit against the deputies from the LA Sheriff's Department for wrongful death in the shooting of Woodrow. A jury deliberated for less than an hour and found no wrongdoing by the officers. And if you want to throw the race card at that, the deputies were represented by Rickie Ivie. He is one of the most prominent African American lawyers in California and was named Lawyer of the Year for 2011.

— Ms. Lee May 3, 2012 at 9:36 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Woodrow Player III, 22 [Updated]

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16 reader comments