Killing of Yoshihiro Hattori

Killing of Yoshihiro Hattori
Hattori in San Francisco
LocationBaton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
DateOctober 17, 1992; 31 years ago (1992-10-17)
Attack type
Child homicide by shooting
ParticipantsBonnie Peairs (alerted Rodney)
Weapon.44 Magnum revolver
VictimYoshihiro Hattori (服部 剛丈), aged 16
AssailantRodney Peairs
MotiveErroneous belief that Hattori was trespassing with criminal intent; possibly racism[1][2][3]
VerdictNot guilty
ChargesManslaughter
LitigationRodney Peairs found liable in civil trial, ordered to pay US$650,000 ($1,336,192 today) to Hattori's parents in damages

Yoshihiro Hattori (服部 剛丈, Hattori Yoshihiro, November 22, 1975 – October 17, 1992, often referred to as Yoshi Hattori[4]) was a Japanese student on an exchange program to the United States who was shot to death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The shooting happened when Hattori, on his way to a Halloween party, went to the wrong house by mistake. Property owner Rodney Peairs (/piːrz/)[5] fatally shot Hattori, erroneously thinking that he was trespassing with criminal intent. The killing and Peairs' trials received worldwide attention, initiating discussion about race relations and attitudes toward Asians in the United States.[1][2][3]

Peairs was acquitted of manslaughter at a criminal trial, but at a civil trial he was found liable for Hattori's death. The court awarded Hattori's parents US$650,000 ($1,336,192 today) against Peairs in damages.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Hurst, Daniel (March 22, 2018). "How the mother of Japanese student shot dead became a force for US gun reform". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT was invoked but never defined (see the help page).