Relative of Pasadena Man Fatally Shot by Altadena Sheriff’s Deputies Says Family Will March Saturday to Promote Police Reform

[An earlier version of this story said the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. body-worn camera footage of the Charles Towns shooting incident had not been released, but that was incorrect. The footage was released on Tuesday. We apologize for this error and have updated the story]

A family member of Charles Robert Towns, the 47-year-old Pasadena man who was fatally shot by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in Altadena on Jan. 22, said that Towns’s family will join the families of four other men killed by law enforcement and march at the Pasadena Black History Parade on Saturday.

Skughofey Quincy Earl said in a statement emailed to Pasadena Now that the families will also hold a press conference at Jackie Robinson Park after the Parade.

Towns was shot by Altadena Sheriff’s deputies after attempting to stab an elderly woman and an unidentified man with a metal object at a gas station on the corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Woodbury Road. The incident, which is under investigation, occurred around 5:15 p.m. in the 2100 block of El Sereno Avenue. The body-worn camera video footage was released Tuesday by the LASD.

“Join us as the families of Charles Towns, Anthony Lowe, Tamar V. Smith, Oscar L Sanchez and Keenan Anderson, with community leaders, as we walk to promote social change, police reform within our communities at the Pasadena 41st Annual Black History Parade & Festival,” Earl said.

The Parade begins at North Fair Oaks Avenue and Mountain View Street at 10 a.m.

“I don’t believe the (shooting) incident warranted the use of deadly force,” Earl said. “All four officers’ body cam footage should be released as well as car video footage. What was the initial encounter with the first officer before the shooting? The officers had time to use other tactics. This was a killing that didn’t need to happen, one that could and should have been avoided.”

Earl said the family is still waiting for the full release of the autopsy report from the medical examiner, but alleged Towns was “shot 17 times, he was shot in the back, chess [sic], shoulder and leg after he was no longer in possession of the metal object, he also was shot after he was already down”

“Charles, was a father, brother and part of the community. Charles and his family have been part Altadena/Pasadena community dating back to the late 50s,” Earl said.

Earl announced the official funeral for Towns is set for March 3 at 11 a.m. at the New Revelation Missionary Baptist Church, 855 N Orange Grove Blvd., Pasadena. He also asked members of the public to donate to a GoFundMe account to help the family with burial costs.