Latasha Harlins

Latasha Harlins (January 1, 1976 – March 16, 1991) was an African American girl who was fatally shot at age 15 by Soon Ja Du (두순자), a 49-year-old Korean American convenience store owner.

Du was tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter over the killing of Harlins, based in part on security camera footage.

The judge sentenced Du to 10 years in state prison but the sentence was suspended and the defendant was instead placed on five years' probation with 400 hours of community service and payment of $500 restitution, and Harlins' funeral costs.

Latasha Harlins was born January 1, 1976, in East St. Louis, Illinois, to Crystal Harlins and Sylvester "Vester" Acoff Sr. Latasha had one younger brother, Vester Acoff Jr., and one younger sister, Christina.

The family moved from Illinois to South Central Los Angeles in 1981.

In 1982, when Latasha was six years old, her father took a job in a steel foundry while her mother worked as a waitress in a local tavern.

Their unstable marriage ended in 1983.

On November 27, 1985, Crystal was brutally shot dead outside a Los Angeles nightclub by Cora Mae Anderson, Acoff's new girlfriend, leaving Latasha and her younger siblings in the care of their maternal grandmother, Ruth Harlins.

Latasha held her mother in great esteem and loved her dearly.

In middle school, Latasha ran track and was on the honor roll.

They lived near 89th St. and Broadway, just a few blocks from where Latasha would be killed ten years later.

Acoff Sr. was known to be abusive towards Crystal, attacking and beating her in front of Latasha and her younger siblings.

At the time of her death in 1991, Latasha was a student at Westchester High School.

She had dreams of becoming a lawyer and had a love for basketball.

Her best friend Tybie O’Bard, who she saved from drowning the day they met, noted that she would often “play with the older boys”.

Latasha was known as the “neighbourhood big sister”.

She was buried next to her mother in Paradise Memorial Park, Santa Fe Springs, California.

Soon Ja Du's store, Empire Liquor, was located at the intersection of West 91st Street and South Figueroa Street, Vermont Vista, Los Angeles, and was normally staffed by Du's husband and son.

However, on the morning of the shooting, Du was working behind the counter, and her husband was outside resting in the family van.

Shortly before 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, Harlins entered the store.

Du observed Harlins putting a $1.79 bottle of orange juice in her backpack.

Du concluded Harlins was attempting to steal, and did not see the money Harlins held in her hand.

Du claimed to have asked Harlins if she intended to pay for the orange juice, to which Du claimed Harlins responded, "What orange juice?"

Two eyewitnesses—9-year-old Ismail Ali and his 13-year-old sister Lakeshia Combs—disputed that claim, saying that Du immediately accused Harlins of trying to steal, to which they claimed Harlins replied that she intended to pay for the orange juice.

After speaking with the two eyewitnesses present and viewing the videotape of the incident, recorded by a store security camera, the police concluded that Harlins intended to pay for the beverage with money in hand.

The videotape showed that Du grabbed Harlins by her sweater and snatched her backpack.

Harlins then struck Du with her fist twice, knocking Du to the ground.

After Harlins backed away, Du angrily threw a stool at her.

Harlins then tried to flee the scene, but Du reached under the counter, retrieved a revolver, and fired at Harlins from behind at a distance of about 3 ft. The gunshot struck Harlins in the back of the head, killing her instantly.

Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the gunshot and rushed into the store.

After speaking to his wife, who asked for the whereabouts of Harlins before fainting, he dialed 9-1-1 to report an attempted holdup.

Soon Ja Du testified on her own behalf, claiming that the shooting was in self-defense and that she believed her life was in danger.

But her testimony was contradicted by the statements of the two witnesses present at the time, as well as the store's security camera video, which showed Du shooting Harlins in the back of the head as she turned away from Du and attempted to leave the store.

The Los Angeles Police Department ballistics report also found that the handgun Du used was altered in such a way that it required much less pressure on the trigger to fire than an ordinary handgun.

On November 15, 1991, a jury found that Du's decision to fire the gun was fully within her control and that she fired the gun voluntarily.

The jury found Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 16 years.

However, the trial judge, Joyce Karlin, sentenced Du to five years of probation, 10 years of suspended prison, 400 hours of community service, and payment of a $500 fine and Harlins' funeral costs.

Judge Karlin suggested that there were mitigating circumstances in the killing of Harlins.

The sentencing was widely regarded as extremely light, and a failed appeal reportedly contributed to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, especially the targeting of Koreatown.

The killing of Harlins came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King.