SIMI VALLEY : Deputy Found Not Liable in Killing

A Ventura County Superior Court jury decided Wednesday that Los Angeles County and one of its sheriff’s deputies were not liable for the death of a man who burst into the deputy’s Simi Valley home five years ago.

After about five hours of deliberation, the jury in Judge Burt Henson’s court decided that Deputy Joe Mario Grasso was justified in fatally shooting Jonathan Little, 26, in 1987.

According to trial testimony, Little was shot after he broke down the door of Grasso’s apartment about 1:30 a.m., apparently mistaking it for another residence. Grasso and his wife testified that the victim first pounded on the door, demanding to speak with two men named Rick and Dave.

When they said there was no one there by those names, Little left, but returned and yelled that he would break down the door, the couple testified. When he did so, Grasso fired two rounds from his service revolver and killed Little.

The victim’s family sued Grasso and the county, seeking more than $5 million. The suit said the county was also negligent in improperly training the deputy.

The jury’s vote was 10 to 2. Andrew Weber, a Simi Valley resident who was one of the two holdouts, said he thought that Grasso’s second round of gunfire was not justified. Grasso said he was pleased with the verdict but felt sorry for the victim’s family.