In 1991, 15-year-old Latasha Harlins was shot in the back of the head by a grocer at point-blank range for allegedly stealing a bottle of orange juice. Although the murder was captured on video and the killer Soon Ja Du was convicted of VOLUNTARY manslaughter, she served not a day in jail. Today in The Atlanta Post, Mo’Kelly remembers Latasha Harlins and the meaning of true judicial injustice, relative to the absurdity surrounding the response to the Casey Anthony verdict.
Video of the murder and original news coverage HERE.
Specifics surrounding the incident:
The following paragraphs summarize the transcript of court case, People v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County. The South Los Angeles store, Empire Liquor was normally staffed by Du’s husband and son. However, on the morning of the shooting, Du was working behind the counter, and her husband was outside resting in the family’s van.
Du saw Harlins putting a bottle of orange juice in her backpack. Du erroneously concluded that Harlins was attempting to steal, evidently not seeing the money Harlins was holding. Du attempted to grab Harlins by the sweater and snatched her backpack. Harlins then struck Du with her fist three times, knocking Du to the ground. After Harlins backed away Du then threw a stool at her. Harlins then picked up the orange juice that dropped during the scuffle, threw it on the counter and turned to leave. Du reached under the counter to retrieve a handgun. Du then fired at Harlins from behind and shot her in the back of her head, killing her instantly. Du’s husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the shot and rushed into the store. After speaking to his wife, who asked for whereabouts of Harlins before fainting, he dialed 911 to report an alleged holdup. Paramedics soon arrived, but Harlins was dead, her two dollars still in her left hand.
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The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and EURWEB.com. For the most recent posts of Mr. Mo’Kelly, visit https://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at [email protected].
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