Killing of Latasha Harlins

Latasha Harlins
Born(1976-01-01)January 1, 1976
East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMarch 16, 1991(1991-03-16) (aged 15)
Cause of deathManslaughter (gunshot wound)
Other namesTasha
EducationWestchester High School

Latasha Harlins (January 1, 1976 – March 16, 1991) was a Black girl who was fatally shot at age 15 by Soon Ja Du (Korean: 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.[2] The sentencing was widely regarded as extremely light, and a failed appeal[3] reportedly contributed to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, especially the targeting of Koreatown.[4] The killing of Harlins came 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King.

  1. ^ "Column: The killing of Latasha Harlins was 30 years ago. Not enough has changed". Los Angeles Times. March 17, 2021.
  2. ^ Zia, Helen (2001). Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-374-52736-5.
  3. ^ "FindLaw's California Court of Appeal case and opinions".
  4. ^ Managing Crises: Responses to Large-Scale Emergencies. SAGE Publications. 2009. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-5443-1702-1.