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| Militant/Carole Lesnick |
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. — More than 200 people joined a rally and march here July 12 condemning the decision by District Attorney Jill Ravitch not to prosecute the cop who killed 13-year-old Andy Lopez. Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy Erick Gelhaus shot and killed the eighth grade student Oct. 22, 2013. Lopez was carrying a toy pellet gun when Gelhaus opened fire, shooting him seven times. Ravitch announced her decision July 7, saying the killing was justified because Gelhaus believed he was in danger. Thirty-four people have been killed by Sonoma County cops since 1995, according to a November 2013 report in the Press Democrat, but prosecutors have never charged any of the cops involved with a crime. The Lopez family released a statement saying that the DA’s “cowardly political decision sends the tacit message that law enforcement officials who use excessive force in Sonoma County will not suffer meaningful consequences and, instead, will enjoy immunity from local prosecution.” The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gelhaus. |
| — GERARDO SÁNCHEZ |