A glamorous cop and gun rights advocate was cleared of wrongdoing after a fatal shooting that claimed a man’s life, raising serious ethical questions.
Accused of firing multiple shots at a man who was already on the ground, Toni McBride, 27, a Los Angeles police officer and daughter of a top police union official, is now being vindicated.
During its initial review of the incident, the police commission ruled that the armed officer’s first four shots were justified, but the fifth and sixth rounds were deemed “out of policy.”
Accused of firing multiple shots at a man who was already on the ground, 27-year-old Los Angeles police officer Toni McBride has now been vindicated
During its initial review of the incident, the police commission ruled that the armed officer’s first four shots were justified, but the fifth and sixth rounds were deemed “out of policy.”
As a result of the findings, McBride, a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, was allowed to keep her job but had to retrain.
Dissatisfied with the committee’s ruling, McBride has filed an appeal and youUnder the LAPD’s disciplinary process, her case was eligible for review.
The appeal, overseen by a hearing examiner – a civilian drawn from a group of attorneys, ex-law enforcement officers and arbitration professionals – cleared her of these policy violations.
All of McBride’s recordings will now be considered “in policy” by the department and any mention of the prior decision will be removed from her personnel file.
The victim’s family has now filed a lawsuit in state court after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed their federal claim, arguing that the shooting was unjustified and that McBride had “reckless violent and homicidal tendencies.”
The appellate decision is widely recognized as an affirmation of qualified immunity – a legal doctrine that protects police officers from civil liability.
As a result of the findings, McBride, a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment, was allowed to keep her job but required to undergo retraining.
The shooting sparked protests, with some citing McBride’s previous social media posts involving guns as evidence of a propensity for violence
An attorney for Hernandez’s estate, Arnoldo Casillas, called the hearing investigator’s decision “yet another blatant example of the LAPD money laundering officer’s misconduct.”
The shooting sparked protests, with some noting McBride’s many gun-wielding social media posts as evidence of a propensity for violence.
The gun rights activist was among the officers who arrived on the scene in April 2020.
Uncovered in California’s historic south-central neighborhood, the victim, Daniel Hernandez, had crashed his truck into several other vehicles and was wielding a box cutter.
It was later revealed that Hernandez was under the influence of methamphetamine and appeared to be cutting himself.
Video footage of the incident showed McBride shooting Hernandez as he walked toward her while ignoring repeated commands to drop the weapon.
They then opened fire, with the final two rounds striking Hernandez as he rolled on the ground.
Video footage of the incident showed McBride shooting Hernandez as he walked toward her while ignoring repeated commands to drop the weapon.
The victim’s family has now filed a lawsuit in state court after the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed their federal claim, arguing that the shooting was unjustified and that McBride had “reckless violent and homicidal tendencies.” Pictured: Daniel Hernandez
McBride, who has faced intense backlash for her actions, has faced numerous setbacks, including taking medical leave in November 2022 due to what she described in court filings as “severe physical symptoms caused and exacerbated by the stress.”
Her father, Jamie McBride, executive director of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, told the National Police Association: “Over the past four years, this has weighed heavily on Toni, even causing her to have medical problems.”
McBride has remained active on social media, touting her prominent stance on guns and weapons.
‘I would like to thank everyone for their support. Seriously…thank you,” she wrote on an Instagram post after the appeal was approved.
“It was God and all of you who helped me these past four years. I love you all,” she added.