LOS ANGELES : City to Pay $1.2 Million to Shooting Victim
The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to pay $1.2 million to a former North Hollywood theater manager who was shot and critically wounded after police learned about a threat to kill the man but never warned him.
George Carpenter, 45, suffered facial nerve damage and other physical and psychological injuries in the July 4, 1985, shooting, which police believe was meant to stop him from testifying about a robbery he had witnessed at the theater he managed.
A Los Angeles police investigation determined that a detective had assured Carpenter that the robbery suspect was no threat, but other officers later learned that the suspect was soliciting a “contract hit” on him. Carpenter was never warned.
In a statement issued through his attorney, Thomas G. Stolpman, Carpenter said he was happy that the City Council approved his award and has promised to review the policy for warning crime witnesses about similar threats.
“The city is finally doing what I have always wanted--taking positive action to prevent other victims from being injured like I was,” he said.
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