Settlement: Inglewood to pay $2.45 million in police shooting case

Times reporter Andrew Blankstein has the story about Inglewood's decision to page $2.45 million to settle claims in connection to the shooting of several unarmed men shot at by police. The claims to be settled include a payout to the family of Michael Byoune, a 19-year-old black man, who was shot and killed by Inglewood police May 11, 2008 in the 3000 block of Manchester Boulevard.

Inglewood will pay $2.45 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought the families of three men who were shot, one of them fatally, by police officers who mistakenly believed gunfire was coming from the vehicle the three were riding in, according to a tentative settlement.

Michael Byoune died from his wounds, and driver Larry White and passenger Chris Larkin were injured in the shooting by Inglewood officers on May 11, 2008 (Mother's Day) outside a Rally's restaurant. Jacqueline Seabrooks, chief of the 190-member police department, described the incident at the time as "a very tragic outcome."

Carl Douglas, an attorney representing the victims and their families, said he was pleased by the settlement, adding that it brought "some measure of justice" to the victims. "Three young men who had done absolutely nothing wrong had their lives changed forever," he said.

"No amount of money will ever bring back Michael Byoune to his family, but hopefully, through his death, the city will make changes that will help all of the citizens of our community," Douglas said. "For that reason, his death will not be in vain."

Inglewood spokesman Ed Maddox confirmed the tentative settlement "pending the completion of final documents."

Keep reading: Inglewood to pay $2.45 million to settle claim in 2008 police shooting death