Darrel Stanley, 32 [Updated]

April 19, 2010, 9:59 a.m.

Darrel Stanley, a 32-year-old white man, died Tuesday, April 13, in the 11700 block of West Olympic Boulevard in Sawtelle, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said Stanley was caught shoplifting at a super market about 11 p.m. He was approached and later tackled by a security guard in the parking lot, Winter said.

Stanley became unresponsive and was taken to a hospital, where he died at 11:53 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

The coroner’s office initially listed Stanley's death as a homicide. Officials have since deferred a final determination in the case pending additional tests that will not be available for another six to eight weeks.

[Updated, Oct. 19: Coroner's officials said Stanley's death was ultimately ruled a homicide.

The official cause of death was listed as traumatic apnea in conjunction with a concussion, alcohol intoxication, an enlarged heart and thyroiditis.]

-- Sarah Ardalani

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47 reader comments

After reading some of these comments, it seems as though some believe this guy was murdered by someone besides the security guard in question.

From the limited amount of info in the story, it seems that he was just the victim of an overzealous security guard. The grocery stores here in Hollywood have more security guards than some banks I've been in, which makes sense because most of them have banks inside and pharmacies.

I've seen firsthand how seriously these guards and store managers take shoplifting (even suspected shoplifting).
I once was entering a Ralph's on La Brea Avenue and saw a security guard with a suspect (or customer maybe) face down on the ground and with both hands held by a store manager while the guard had all of his weight sitting on the back of the guys neck. There we at least 4 store employee on top of this guy and the manager was yelling at the man on the ground to surrender the suspected stolen merchandise.

It was a ridiculous and painful scene to watch, and I could imagine a scenario where it could have escalated to something causing the mans death. The guard was on top of the man with his knee on the back of his head, and it looked as though the man was having a hard time breathing.

Whatever happened in this case, all that can be said is it is always horrible to lose someone you love, and to this man's family, I am very sorry for your loss.

And to security guards everywhere (especially at Ralphs)-
CHILL OUT, OK!!!!! If someone slips some merchandise out of the store, it's not the end of the world. Your supposed to be there to protect the employees AND the customers in an emergency, not to pound the crap out of petty thieves. Let it go, relax, meditate, whatever you have to do, but chill the-F out. Thank you.

— DIGZ Aug. 20, 2010 at 5:18 a.m.

christian-you speak as though you have some evidence of the facts of my brother's life. My brother was far from a drug addict please get your story straight before you talk to the cops .....Perhaps you are a drug addict too? If you are and you "want" to get clean good luck and if you are fortunate and not addicted to drugs do everyone a favor- go find some kids who aren't addicted as well and start a new country with a generation that has never laid eyes on television or listened to the media- because Hollywood has pumped nearly all the world's imaginations full of dope, sex, and violence.... and it is going to take more than a miracle to stop the spread of what is about to happen. Death is inevitable for all drugs just help some deal with their pain better and then there are those who most definitely can not handle drogas I am sure you catch my drift .....if not just keep sniffing I am already high..... ON LIFE. Did you ever even consider why he may have used or abused drugs before you just decided he was "going to jail/asylum/tomb" were you there when he was abused as a little boy did you ever help him deal with that? Have you ever thought about how much anger a person could possibly have inside of them from being forced to do things they did not want to do? Can you imagine running a block in his shoes? Oh yeah make sure you send me a postcard or a plane ticket or some directions or something on how to get there if you decide to start that new colony because my daughter could have loads of fun there. I promise I will behave.

— Miss Stanley July 26, 2010 at 5:58 p.m.

I am not going to pass judgement on anyone, because I am not God. I was not present at the crime scene, and I have no idea of what may or may not have occured on that night.
I am a very loving and compassionate person. Darrel's family is in a tremendous amount of pain right now. I would like for everyone to show them a little bit more respect. Darrel is gone, and all of his sins have been washed away.
One of these days you all are going to stand before the judgement seat of God. Are you doing everything that you are suppose to do to find favor in God's eyes?
"Stop judging that you may not be judged; for with what you are judging, you will be judged, and with the measure that you are measuring out, they will measure out to YOU." _ Matthew 7: 1,2

— LAZ H Just Wants Attention!!! June 15, 2010 at 10:39 a.m.

I cannot believe what you people are attempting to say or not say about Darrel. He was a brilliant man with many wonderful talents. I am very shocked that some of you have posted things on here that are defaming to his character. If you knew him and you did not like him you must have been extremely stupid or got your feelings hurt because of some great thing he could do that you could not. Even though he moved away from his family and childhood "friends" to make a better life I am shocked that his adult "friends" were not much different. They should have had the educated ability to understand HIS MOTHER would have done anything to help him even though you all claim he did not want her to "HURT" by knowing the truth. THE TRUTH IS CONGRATULATIONS DARREL'S MOM NOW HE IS DEAD! As far as I can see the truth is this: 1) A real friend LOVES at ALL times not just when YOU get what YOU want. I have spoken to plenty of Darrel's "friends" and am not impressed that you all have some type of schooling or degree, but am rather disgusted that you do not know the first thing of weighing matters of the heart. Perhaps it is because your HEART lies in wait for MONEY & THINGS you can touch and see- you all wasted no time in getting your hands on HIS stuff! 2) When you are a person's friend and you know they have an extremely dangerous problem with drugs and alcohol-you can never exhaust the ability to get them help until they ARE perhaps DEAD. Everyone that REALLY loves Darrel and cares for him knew nothing of his dangerous lifestyle or "PATTERNS" so shut your face LAZ H.(whoever the hell you are)-that is my brother you are talking about! You cannot even spell or proofread. How would you like that I say that about your brother AFTER he is dead? Whoever the comment came from about me using Helena as a ticket you know nothing about she and I OR how old Helena is. I do not like reading your comments. Laz H. do you have an alibi for the night my brother was killed? It is very shocking that Lin Wu S. has said he was killed by a guard at the store. Lin Wu S. I would like to talk to you about that. I know Darrel was more important than you all have made him out to be and I have to say that it must be because you were too selfish to let us know what was going on and you think you are too smart to get caught. I wonder how many more of your friends you have done this to? Steph I still have some of his ashes and am having a special service for him when I go overseas in a few more months. I still do not believe he is gone! Look me up on facebook. I am not that hard to find.

— Mary Stanley June 4, 2010 at 8:28 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Darrel Stanley, 32 [Updated]

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