Ex-LAPD Officer Faces Murder Charges in 2015 Venice Shooting of Unarmed Homeless Man

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office recently revealed a grand jury indictment implicating a former Los Angeles police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed homeless man in Venice back in May 2015. The indictment, which was made public on Friday, has brought renewed attention to the case.

Clifford Proctor, the officer in question, has entered a plea of not guilty to a second-degree murder charge, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The incident involved the death of 29-year-old Brendan Glenn, who was shot during a confrontation with police outside a bar following an altercation with a bouncer. Glenn’s death sparked widespread protest against police shootings in Los Angeles. Both Glenn and Proctor are African American.

The indictment follows a re-evaluation of four police use-of-force cases by the former district attorney, George Gascón, one of which included Proctor’s actions. The current district attorney, Nathan Hochman, who took office after defeating Gascón in the November election, will now assess whether the prosecution will continue, according to a statement from his office.

Hochman, who ousted Gascón in November’s election, will review the case and decide whether to proceed with the prosecution, the statement said.

Proctor’s lawyer, Anthony “Tony” Garcia, questioned the timing of the charges and noted that prosecutors declined to charge his client in 2018, according to the Times.

In 2018, LA District Attorney Jackie Lacey declined to press charges, saying there was insufficient evidence to prove Proctor acted unlawfully when he used deadly force.

Glenn was on his stomach and trying to push himself up when Proctor shot him in the back, according to police. He wasn’t trying to take a gun from Proctor or his partner when he was shot, and Proctor’s partner told investigators that he didn’t know why the officer opened fire, police have said.

Proctor resigned from the Los Angeles Police Department in 2017. The city paid $4 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit that was brought by Glenn’s relatives.

Proctor, 60, remains in jail. His next court date is Nov. 3.