Jury finds for LAPD officer in deadly shooting of man, 18

LOS ANGELES – A jury has found that a Los Angeles police officer didn’t use unreasonable force when he shot an 18-year-old man holding two guns.

The Los Angeles Times reports that jurors sided Monday with Officer Evan Urias in an unlawful death lawsuit filed against him and the LAPD by the family of Kenney Watkins.

Watkins was shot in the back as he ran from the officer in South Los Angeles in 2016. Authorities said Watkins turned toward the officer and pointed a gun at him.

An attorney for the family, Michael Curls, told the Times that Watkins was only turning to look at the officer and wasn’t about to shoot.

The Los Angeles Police Commission ruled in July that the officer’s use of deadly force was reasonable.