Group Calls For Luna to Come to Altadena to Discuss Fatal Shooting

A local activist is calling on Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna to come to Altadena to have a dialogue about the fatal shooting of a local man by sheriff’s deputies.

Deputies fatally shot 47-year-old Pasadena resident Charles Towns on January 22 after he attacked and injured two people with a sharp metal object.

Last month Altadena Sheriff’s Station Captain Jabari Williams faced tense questions from community members after updating the Altadena Town Council on the incident.

According to the March 18 letter addressed to Captain Williams from Heavenly Hughes on Tuesday, during the meeting it was mentioned that Sheriff Robert Luna may come to Altadena to speak to the community about this fatal shooting.

“Captain Williams, we ask for you to join efforts with Supervisor Barger, the Altadena Town Council and community in asking your Supervisor, Sheriff Robert Luna, to come and have dialogue with his constituents, and the residents and community of Altadena.”

According to Hughes, Towns’s family and community members would like to express their grief and mourning directly to the Sheriff. 

“We want the Sheriff to understand and feel the devastating impact this murder [sic] has had on our community.”

The state Justice Department has taken over the investigation pursuant to AB 1506. Under that law, the California Department of Justice is required to investigate all incidents of an officer-involved shooting resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian in the state. 

Before the law took effect, critical incidents in California were primarily handled by local law enforcement agencies and the state’s 58 district attorneys.

“When an officer-involved shooting occurs, transparent and open communication is critical to maintain public trust,” according state District Attorney Rob Bonta’s website on AB 1506. “As part of that and in alignment with AB 1506, the California Department of Justice will, as soon as feasible and appropriate, disseminate relevant information and materials about covered incidents and, ultimately, make public its determinations regarding the criminal prosecution of such incidents. Where criminal charges are not appropriate, the California Department of Justice will prepare and make public a written report communicating:  statement of facts, as revealed by the investigation;

• An analysis of those facts in light of applicable law;
• An explanation of why it was determined that criminal charges were not appropriate; and
• Where applicable, recommendations to modify the policies and practices of the involved law enforcement agency.

“Captain Williams, please ask Sheriff Luna to connect with the community of Altadena, as we are grieving. It is the duty of our leaders to provide answers, transparency and accountability,” the letter concludes. 

So far Luna has not responded to the letter.