Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Deadly Shooting by California School Safety Officer Brings $13M Settlement
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 1 year ago on
April 5, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Long Beach Unified School District will pay $13 million to the family of an 18-year-old woman who was shot by a school safety officer as she sat in a car, their attorneys announced Tuesday.

The money settles a wrongful death lawsuit filed over the Sept. 27, 2021 killing of Manuela “Mona” Rodriguez.

“I personally don’t really care about the settlement. It’s not bringing back my sister,″ Rodriguez’s brother, Omar, said at a news conference. “I don’t want anybody else to go through this pain.″

Rodriguez, the mother of a 5-month-old son, was shot in the back of the head in a parking lot near Millikan High School in Long Beach. She was sitting in the passenger seat of a car that was driving away after Rodriguez had gotten into a fight with a 15-year-old girl, police have said.

Video posted online appeared to show the safety officer firing at least two shots as the car moved off next to him. At least one bullet pierced a window of the car.

Rodriguez was removed from life support several days later.

The officer, Eddie Gonzalez, was fired by the school district and charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Family attorneys said Gonzalez wasn’t in danger and the car was heading away from him when he fired. The lawsuit contended the district was negligent in hiring him and failed to properly train him.

“We shouldn’t be here today but they screwed it all up by hiring an unqualified future killer cop,” attorney Luis Carrillo said.

In a statement, the school district said it hadn’t seen or ratified a settlement agreement and couldn’t discuss details.

“Settlements like these include language that there is no admission of liability on the district’s part,” the district added. “However, we again share our sincerest condolences with everyone who was impacted by this terrible event.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error

DON'T MISS

Trump’s Potential VP Pick Boasts About Executing Puppy

DON'T MISS

Trita Parsi: Blind Support for Israel Erodes Western Democracies

DON'T MISS

Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules

DON'T MISS

Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?

DON'T MISS

Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win

DON'T MISS

Jose Ramirez: ‘I Want to Make a Statement and Put on a Show’

DON'T MISS

‘IDEA’ Is the Latest Career-Oriented Campus on Fresno Unified’s Drawing Board

DON'T MISS

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1

DON'T MISS

The 49ers Add Florida Receiver Ricky Pearsall With the 30th Draft Pick

UP NEXT

Trump’s Potential VP Pick Boasts About Executing Puppy

UP NEXT

Trita Parsi: Blind Support for Israel Erodes Western Democracies

UP NEXT

Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules

UP NEXT

Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?

UP NEXT

Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win

UP NEXT

‘IDEA’ Is the Latest Career-Oriented Campus on Fresno Unified’s Drawing Board

UP NEXT

Political Stunt, Egg on His Face, Personal Vendetta. Who’s Fresno DA Talking About?

UP NEXT

Blockchain Expert Unravels Misconceptions and Realities of Bitcoin Documentaries

UP NEXT

Did Fresno Trustees Violate Brown Act in Superintendent Search Decisions?

UP NEXT

LA Judge Deals a Blow to Law Allowing Duplexes in Single-Family Tracts

Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules

4 hours ago

Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?

5 hours ago

Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win

5 hours ago

Jose Ramirez: ‘I Want to Make a Statement and Put on a Show’

5 hours ago

‘IDEA’ Is the Latest Career-Oriented Campus on Fresno Unified’s Drawing Board

Local Education /

6 hours ago

Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1

6 hours ago

The 49ers Add Florida Receiver Ricky Pearsall With the 30th Draft Pick

7 hours ago

Political Stunt, Egg on His Face, Personal Vendetta. Who’s Fresno DA Talking About?

7 hours ago

Blockchain Expert Unravels Misconceptions and Realities of Bitcoin Documentaries

Did Fresno Trustees Violate Brown Act in Superintendent Search Decisions?

Local Education /

8 hours ago

Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error

A mistake by the city of Fresno in the process to approve residential garbage rates will delay a vote. When a city government proposes rate ...

4 hours ago

4 hours ago

Fresno Oops? Garbage Hike Protest Vote Delayed by Error

4 hours ago

Trump’s Potential VP Pick Boasts About Executing Puppy

4 hours ago

Trita Parsi: Blind Support for Israel Erodes Western Democracies

4 hours ago

Fresno Trash Hauler’s Response to Overpayments: We Followed the City’s Rules

5 hours ago

Which Six QBs Were Selected in the Top 12 of the NFL Draft?

5 hours ago

Nuggets Close to Sweeping Lakers After Game 3 Win

5 hours ago

Jose Ramirez: ‘I Want to Make a Statement and Put on a Show’

Local Education /
6 hours ago

‘IDEA’ Is the Latest Career-Oriented Campus on Fresno Unified’s Drawing Board

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend