Three years

So yeah... it's been three years today since Zachary Champommier was killed by undercover DEA agents, who wore not one stitch of flaw (typo, it stays) enforcement identification anywhere, while he drove through a public parking lot, at 9:30 at night, behind a crowded shopping center with restaurants, a bank and a grocery store on a Thursday night in June in Studio City, California.

Zac had just graduated from Granada Hills Charter High School, with honors I might add, two weeks before he was killed. He was a beloved member in his community of Porter Ranch, California. He was the son of a single mother, a school teacher at an elementary school and her only child. He played in the band at Nobel Middle School and then for the Highlanders Marching Band at GHCHS and he also indulged his love of classic music by playing viola in the school's orchestra. I cannot begin to tell how horribly this effected so many people here... especially his young friends from high school, not to mention the many adults (even back to his kindergarten teacher) all who loved him to the end of his life. He was the kid we all wanted our own children to be like. He was that special. He really was.

Let me tell you what I know thus far: Zac was in that parking lot looking to meet up with a friend he had met online. Crime? No. It's the twenty-first century, this his how people meet nowadays. Have I ever met up with anyone I've only ever communicated with online? Absolutely. Quite often. With local writers, artists, politicians, local community leaders... I could go on and on.

While driving at a slow speed (accident reconstruction experts for both sides of the lawsuit agreed... Zac was going no more than 6-10ish miles an hour through the parking lot) looking for his new friend, there was an altercation on the other side of the parking lot. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Zac, a multi-jurisdictional task force made up of LAPD, LA Sheriff's and the DEA were concluding an undercover bust and decided to "debrief" in a public parking lot swarming with pedestrians. They were in unmarked cars, in plain clothes and did not tape off the area to alert the public they were there. They had in their possession confiscated weapons, money and I'm not sure if there were drugs there or not. These law enforcement officers in all their hyped up state after serving warrants and doing their thing, decided to roust a guy walking through the public parking lot because they thought he looked "suspicious." Fair enough, I guess. One officer who weighed in at 240 lbs. was running (lumbering, is more like it) through the parking lot towards this "suspicious" guy when he ran right into Zac's car as Zac was inching closer to whatever it was that was going on.

The officer tried to do a Starsky and Hutch move over the car, but apparently, he fell down. Another DEA officer on the other side looked over at just that moment, saw Zac in his car there and the overweight officer on the ground and assumed Zac hit him with his car. Accident experts agreed... Zac stopped his car right after that, and the trajectory of the bullets pulled from his body (he was shot a total of six times. Six times.) showed that he stopped and turned his body back to see what the hell had just happened and that is when the DEA agent (standing to the side of Zac, not in front of him where he was in danger of getting ran over) pointed his gun at Zac and shot him in cold blood. Just. Like. That. Boom.

These law enforcement officers then came up with a brilliant cover: "Let's say Zac was a 'drug suspect' and he came barreling towards us in his car! Yeah, that's the ticket!" But those of us who knew Zac knew that this was a load of malarkey. The evidence, and you can read the fabulous trial summaries in blog posts below, showed us a different reality.

Reality No.1: There were no marks, dents, palm prints or anything else from that 240 lb officer ANYWHERE on the hood of Zac's car that supposedly struck the officer and sent him flying into the air and landing on Zac's hood. Seriously. Not one freaking baby dent or any kind of hand print.

Reality No. 2: And how seriously hurt was this officer who went flying into the air after being struck by a car going maybe 6 mph in the parking lot? Pffft... please. Not a scratch on him. Maybe a scratch from him hitting the ground after he tripped. But not from being struck "by a speeding vehicle."

Reality No. 3: Where was the justification of lethal force here? There wasn't. There isn't. There will never be. Please... read the trial summaries for the full picture of how awful these law enforcement officers acted.

We are hoping for a judgement from the Honorable Judge Michael Fitzgerald soon. We'll keep you posted. Keep a good thought for us... and for Zac.  He didn't deserve to die that way. None of us do.

We miss you, Zac.




 

He was such a great kid. Those of us who were lucky enough to know him know this. With every fiber of our beings we know this. And that's why we're still here.

Summary of Closing Arguments

Seven days from now will mark the third anniversary of Zac Champommier's killing at the hands of plainclothes undercover law enforcement officers, as he drove through a public parking lot in Studio City. 

Below is an excellent summary provided by the growing-in-numbers activist group, United Citizens Against Police Violence.

The following is copied from the United Citizens Against Police Violence page on Facebook:

Champommier Trial Update: Closing Arguments (May 23, 2013)

The judge appeared to be looking at the events that transpired in the killing of Zachary Champommier by plainsclothes members of a multi-jurisdictional task in the light most favorable to Zac's killer. The standard set by Graham v. Conner essentially holds that Zac's killer had to have acted as a reasonable officer would have acted under similar circumstances.

In a nutshell, however, the judge appeared to be begging attorneys for the United States of America to highlight how the actions of Zac's killer could be deemed "reasonable":

1. The judge asked defense council to explain and support how Deputy's position was improved by the killing of the Champommier as he sat behind the steering wheel of his Toyota Corolla (Champommier was alleged to have struck Deputy intentionally, necessitating the use of deadly force. However, if Deputy was on Zac's hood when Agent shot at Zac, Deputy's position would arguably have been worsened by not only the risk of being shot but also by having the car turn into a runaway vehicle by the killing of the driver. If, however, Deputy was no longer on the hood when Zac was shot, wouldn't that be more akin to retaliation for having allegedly struck Deputy?)

2. Defense attorneys find themselves in the proverbial pickle as to the calculus of time taken for Agent (Zac's killer) to perceive the event, formulate the plan to use deadly force, draw his weapon, and execute his plan to use deadly force. If time is decreased, as was argued by defense when they claimed that Zac was traveling at a high rate of speed, Agent had less time to consider his actions. Here, less time equates with less reasonableness. If, however, the calculus of time is added to the notion that there was little or no risk presented to officers by Zac's car becomes more viable because that means Zac's car would have been stopped or nearly stopped for Zac's killer to have been able to shoot the first, and fatal shot while facing the driver's side door. Thus, the notion of retaliation for having struck Deputy becomes bolstered.

3. Judge stated that he had considered utilizing an "advisory jury" to aid in making some determinations in the case. (One may rightfully speculate that this move may be to get an objective understanding and determination of damages amounts)

Decision forthcoming. Stay tuned.

2013

On Saturday, December 29th, local NBC affiliate KNBC published a report on their website about the upcoming court case filed by Zac's mother, Carol, against the United States Government for the wrongful death of her son.

It would seem the story the Sheriff's department, as well as the DEA, concocted regarding the events of that night were just that... all fabrications.

"The nature of [Champommier's] aggressive actions - actually hitting the deputy - that is not someone who is without some degree of fault," Sheriff Lee Baca said.

Apparently, not so much, Sheriff Baca. He did nothing wrong. You said as much to his mother. Without waiting for any official report, Sheriff Baca felt it appropriate to slander a dead young man who was killed by the very deputies who should have been protecting him, just hours after they gunned him down. 

As for Zac intentionally aiming for a deputy? According to the KNBC report, a witness reported seeing a deputy hopping over the front of Zac's car, not making it to the other side and sliding off, during an altercation with someone else in the parking lot. 

Starsky and Hutch fail.

Officers reported that Zac was traveling at a speed of 38 m.p.h. through the parking lot where he was shot. Again, not so. Accident reconstruction experts for both sides of the lawsuit agree: Zac was not traveling any faster than 13 m.p.h., maybe even less, but they settled on 13 for the magic number. So the story of Zac racing into a group of law enforcement officers in an attempt to mow them down was simply a fairy tale. One of many woven that night.

You can finish reading the rest of the KNBC piece here.

In Memorium -- Zac Champommier

 Today marks the two-year anniversary of Zac's death. We remember it as if somehow it had happened only yesterday. Over the course of two years, so much has changed, so much has been learned. And it is as we have always suspected. In fact, the truth is more horrific than we could have imagined.

There will be a candlelight vigil tonight to remember Zac. Please join Zac's family and friends at the corner of Ventura Blvd and Laurel Canyon between 8:45 and 9:00 pm. From there, we will walk to the parking lot behind the Chipotle restaurant. Candles will be provided for you, or you can bring your own.

If you do the social media thing, right click to save any of the images of Zac here or use the image at the top left hand sidebar and then upload the picture as your Facebook profile pic or Twitter avatar in memory of Zac and to raise awareness about his death and the circumstances surrounding it.

His mother is moving forward with her demand for accountability. Unless something's changed and no one sent me the memo, you don't get to shoot down our children in parking lots for no damn reason and not expect to be accountable. Especially if your job is to protect our children. This simply cannot be allowed to ever happen again. Changes must be made. New policies implemented. People must be held to answer for every life needlessly, recklessly, thoughtlessly taken, and for every lie told thereafter.

Re: Champommier v. United States of America, a trial date of November 6, 2012 has been set. The location of the trial is as follows:

Court: Edward R. Roybal Federal Building 
255 E. Temple Street Los Angeles, Ca 90012 
Room: 790 
Date: November 6, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m.

We'll keep you updated on the trial as soon as we learn any new information.

Anniversaries

carol and zac, at his graduation from granada hills charter high school, one year ago

It was a year ago that Zac Champommier and his family and friends celebrated his graduation from Granada Hills Charter High School. Zac had so many friends there and that was such a happy night for all of them.

Two weeks after this picture was taken, Zac was shot and killed by people who had been tasked to protect and to serve him, and yet in the end, they not only failed to protect Zac... they were responsible and culpable for everything that happened that night. All of it.

His family and friends would like to spend the anniversary of his death together. The entire communities of Granada Hills (where Zac went to school), Porter Ranch (where Zac lived) and Studio City (where Zac was killed) are invited to join us as we celebrate his life.

We will meet on Friday, June 24th at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Ventura boulevards from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Zac's mother Carol is planning a butterfly release, similar to the one at Zac's memorial service.

Everyone is welcome.  Even if you only know Zac from reading this blog, you are welcome to come, because now you are a FOZ (Friend of Zac) and now you know what a wonderful person, son, relative, friend, and loved loved loved member of his community that he was; that he is.... that he'll always be.

Zac's Excalibur

The official complaint has been filed against those responsible for the death of Zachary Champommier.

From the LA Weekly:

Despite the official reports, which claimed Champommier drove his car into a sheriff's deputy, causing officers to open fire, Champommier's family says the teen was shot without provocation or justification.

Champommier's mother, Carol, is now suing the DEA, LAPD and LA County Sheriff's Department in federal court for wrongful death.

According to the lawsuit, first reported by Courthouse News Service, Champommier was in his car waiting for a friend when he saw officers detain someone. When Champommier began to drive away toward the parking lot exit, he was fired upon.

Champommier "was unarmed, had not threatened the agents/officers, did not pose a threat of death or serious physical injury," states the lawsuit. The officers "proceeded to use unreasonable, unnecessary and excessive force, firing multiple bullets and killing" Champommier.

From the Complaint:

As is detailed herein, Defendants.... shot and killed the Decedent without justification, in contravention of proper police procedures, and by use of excessive and unnecessary force. Such conduct violated Decedent's right to be free of violations of his constitutional rights under the law.

[snip]

By the actions and omissions described above....depriving Plaintiff and Decedent of the following clearly established and well-settled constitutional rights protected by Amendments to the US Constitution:

a. the right to be free from unreasonable seizure as secured by the Fourth Amendment

b. the right to be free from excessive and unreasonable force in the course of arrest as secured by the Fourth Amendment;

c. the right to be free from the unreasonable use of deadly force as secured by the Fourth Amendment;

d. the right to be free from deprivation of life without due process of law as secured by the Fourteenth Amendment;

e. the right to equal protection of the law as secured by the Fourteenth Amendment;

f. the right to be free from a police cover-up of the use of excessive police force through the filing of false and misleading incident investigation reports.

click image to enlarge

You can read the rest of the official complaint here.(pdf file)

We'll see you in court.

Happy Birthday, Zac

Today would have been Zac's 19th birthday. 

The Way Things Stand:


In a few days it will be 7 months since Zac was killed.  Justice For Zac has learned that the Sheriff's Department report on Zac's case is now in the hands of the L.A. District Attorney's Office, which will review the report for any "penal code violations"; Zac's family and friends are waiting for the Deputy District Attorney who is handling Zac's case to decide if there are.

The Sheriff's Department, so quick to assign blame to Zac for his own killing, so quick to brand him as a "drug suspect," has now done a complete about-face and has met with Zac's mother, assuring her that Zac broke no laws; he did nothing wrong. And when we say Sheriff's Department, we are meaning Sheriff Lee Baca, Himself. That was his statement to Zac's mother: "Zac broke no laws; he did nothing wrong." 


But we already knew that. We knew it way before this Coroner's foresenic report (pictured below) was even finished. We knew it.

click to enlarge

The wheels are moving slowly in this case; anyone familiar with the way the justice system moves is aware of that, or is aware of it now. Many of us are learning this in the hardest of ways: the interminable waiting. But because there is waiting, don't be fooled into thinking there is no action beneath the calm, still waters. The wheels keep moving, even when we don't see them, they keep moving .... forward.


Happy Birthday, Zac.

UPDATE: This post at local blog, street-hassle, pretty much sums up our disappointment at the lack of any meaningful local print or television news coverage on Zac's case:

But what is most challenging to our sensibility is the failure of local journalism in this matter. The fact that the public instantly knows the name of the officer in shootings involving an LAPD badge, but does not know any of the principles in this County and Federal matter after nearly seven months, is the single greatest disgrace, the single greatest evidence of impotence, of the LA Weekly, Los Angeles Times, and Los Angeles Daily News of the past year, and perhaps of the past decade. These have all failed Zac personally; and they have failed his family, his loved ones catastrophically.

You can read the rest at street-hassle.

Getting out of our foxholes

Zac's case was recently mentioned on a radio program. Please take a listen:

Studio City Shooting - Meet Zac

Here's a video montage of Zac Champommier that was made by a friend and shown at his memorial service. It pretty much captures Zac's essence: sweet, loyal, fun, devoted son and friend, inspired musician, honors student... innocent, beautiful boy. He was all those things and more. Zachary Champommier was shot and killed by law enforcement officers on June 24, 2010 in Studio City, California. He was only 18.

Studio City Shooting - Zachary Champommier

Laurel Canyon & Ventura Blvd., Studio City

 a.k.a. "High Intensity Drug Traffic Area''  

Oh really?

If you've arrived here from a Google search of  "Studio City Shooting" after seeing a rather diverse group of family and friends holding vigil on the streets of Studio City in honor of 18-year-old recent Granada Hills Charter High School graduate Zachary Champommier, you've come to the right place.


There are some handy links on the left which you can click to read more about Zac's story. We  hope you'll come back and visit; we'd like you to get to know Zac and so we'll post some more about him soon. Until then, please bookmark this site and visit often for the latest news and action updates. Thank you for visiting -- Zac would be happy you did.

August 6th Vigil for Awareness

Some video from today's Vigil for Awareness for Zachary Champommier

Beep beep for Zac!



Family and friends line the streets of Studio City to raise awareness for Zac Champommier.




At the end of the vigil, a friend of Zac's takes to the bagpipes for a touching rendition of Amazing Grace.