 Leonard Deadwyler 7 days prior to his death | |
| Date | May 7, 1966 |
|---|---|
| Location | 60th St. and Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause | Gunshot wound to the chest |
| Participants | Jerold M. Bova and partner (LAPD officers) |
| Outcome | Ruled accidental homicide |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Coroner | Los Angeles County Coroner's Office |
Leonard Deadwyler (February 19, 1941 – May 7, 1966) was an African-American man who was shot and killed by LAPD officer Jerold M. Bova after allegedly speeding and running red lights while driving his wife, who was in labor, to the hospital.[1][2] His wife later sued Los Angeles for wrongful death, and was represented by Johnnie Cochran, but lost the case.[3] However, his death helped spur the building of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital in South Central.[4]
- ^ Pynchon, Thomas (June 12, 1966). "A Journey Into The Mind of Watts". New York Times. Los Angeles.
- ^ Johnson, John; Shuster, Beth (March 16, 1996). "Shootings Recall Dangers of Traffic Stops". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Jones, Tamara (October 3, 1994). "The Silent Persuader: Simpson Team's Charasmatic Johnnie Cochran [sic]". Washington Post.
- ^ Fletcher, Michael A. (April 7, 1998). "The Myth of the Melting Pot: A Flurry of Activism". Washington Post.