William Alexander Mejia, 18

May 21, 2013

William Alexander Mejia, an 18-year-old Latino, was killed in an officer-involved shooting on Tuesday, May 21 in the 300 block of South Gless Street in Boyle Heights, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Officers were on patrol shortly before midnight near the intersection of South Gless and East 3rd streets when they spotted a known gang member in the area carrying a revolver, according to a Los Angeles Police Department official.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, Mejia was riding a bicycle, then pointed the gun at police. Officers fired multiple shots. He died at the scene at 12:10 a.m., coroner’s records show.

The incident is being investigated by the LAPD’s force-investigation division.

-Andrew Blankstein and Joseph Serna

Share a memory or thought about William Alexander Mejia

Before you post, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Remember, all posts are approved by a Times staffer. Profanity and personal attacks will not be approved.

Two reader comments

William was shy, had a good heart and a unique sense of humor. He was a nice, well-liked kid working at Homeboy Industries. He was a high profile plaintiff representing students deprived of their civil rights in an ACLU lawsuit.

William wanted to be of value. He once asked me to help him write a letter asking for a job. When I first met little William, he had a hard time expressing himself. He was both speech and language impaired and a victim of repeated, violent traumas. Visual-spatial acuity and memory were among William's gifts.

William Mejia loved being out and running free, or as I perceived, he would become "lost in space," where he he seemed to feel most comfortable when trying to make sense of life. When constrained, William seemed to be sensory deprived, as I reported to Public Counsel in 2009, when I felt that his civil rights were being violated, and thereafter, ACLU sued the system on William's behalf.

I had the pleasure of watching William grow into a much taller and fit young man. He worked hard to learn discipline to ask politely for his own needs and the needs of others. He had a strong sense of inquiry, justice and was willing to "trust the process of life."

I'll never forget the last "knowing" glance he gave me from a basketball court as we exchanged goodbyes. Sometimes William seemed to know things before they happened.

How heart wrenching to learn about William's Mejia's tragic death on the anniversary of his shooting. He wasn't violent and had numerous village experts to help him navigate life.

William learned a lot by observation. Sadly, with his gifts, he often found himself observing gang life. Too bad Public Counsel or the ACLU didn't send him to school, away from the streets. What he went through as a political pawn for "educational reform" did not end up making a difference ~ in terms of his life outcome.

Reports say that William was riding his bike right before he died. That sounds like William, except having a gun doesn't. What happened after that is for the experts to figure out. I was very saddened to learn that the area was roped off and his body was laying in the street from midnight til 10:30am with no observers allowed in the alley. How well was his death investigated? I find no reports regarding the resolution of disparate stories.

I prefer instead to visualize William riding his bicycle in Heaven with his beloved brother, who he missed and was grieving very much. His brother was a mechanic and not a gang member, who was shot while fixing his car.

RIP William. I'll always remember you. If you were here now, William, I'd help you to tell of the injustices and politics, but when I looked for you to ask you to come forward, you were gone. I pray blessings on your spirit, and comfort and protection for your lovely momma, sister and those who cared about you the most. Now you're free to ride the wind in Truth.

— Ms. Crawford June 6, 2014 at 11:35 p.m.