Settlement for Slain Boy’s Family

City officials agreed last week to pay $170,000 to the family of a teen-age boy killed by police in July, 1989.

The out-of-court settlement, in which the city admits no wrongdoing, ends a two-year lawsuit against the city filed by the family of 16-year-old Rene Amador. As the youth scaled a fence, trying to escape arrest, he was shot by Compton Police Officer Roberto Valentine, said Charles Evans, who investigated the shooting for the city.

Valentine left the Compton force about 1 1/2 years ago to join the El Monte Police Department, said Compton Lt. Al Smith.

Amador was one of several youths congregated on the 200 block of Willow Street on July 21, 1989, when officers arrived to investigate a complaint of gunfire and drug sales, Evans said. The youths fled as two officers arrived, and Valentine chased Amador behind a house, Evans said.

Valentine alleged that Amador drew a weapon and pointed it in his direction before trying to scale a fence. The teen-ager was shot in the spine as he went over the top of the fence. A .38-caliber handgun was later found in the area but was never linked to Amador, Evans said.

The youth’s mother, Teresa Castro, was pleased with the settlement, her attorney said.