Local News in Brief : Chatsworth Woman’s Lawsuit Claims Police Killed Husband

A Chatsworth woman has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court alleging that Los Angeles police killed her estranged husband and tried to cover up the slaying by claiming he had committed suicide.

Los Angeles attorney Stephen Yagman filed the lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of Patricia Jo Hall, whose husband, Willard C. Hall, died of a gunshot wound to the head at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday outside his estranged wife’s home in the 20300 block of Lassen Street.

The lawsuit seeks $5 million in general damages and $5 million in punitive damages from Police Chief Daryl F. Gates, the city and unnamed officers, Yagman said.

He said an independent autopsy conducted Tuesday by forensic pathologist Nasser Mossanen contradicted a Los Angeles County coroner’s office finding that Hall committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. Mossanen could not be reached for comment, however, and Yagman said: “He’s my forensic pathologist. No one else can talk to him. I don’t let anyone else have access to him.”

Police said Hall, a self-employed carpet installer, went to his estranged wife’s home at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday, and threatened his wife and two teen-age sons with a shotgun. Police said Hall also fired at a visiting 16-year-old boy, who suffered a minor foot injury.

Hall’s wife called police after fleeing the house, police said. Officers said they saw Hall behind a neighbor’s hedge with the family dog nearby. Police then heard a shotgun blast and, fearing they were being shot at, fired six rounds at Hall, authorities said.

Yagman said Hall was walking his dog while carrying a shotgun. “The question police should answer is, as far as they know, what law was he breaking?” Yagman said.

Police spokesman William Booth said carrying a loaded weapon is a violation of city law. Booth declined comment on the lawsuit.