Jackson Seeks FBI Probe of Shooting
The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Sunday called on the FBI and Justice Department to investigate the videotaped shooting in which 10 sheriff’s deputies fired 120 shots on a residential block in Compton, an incident that officials have characterized as a case of “contagious fire.”
Jackson visited the man who is suspected of leading deputies on a chase May 8 at his bedside at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Winston Hayes, 44, who was driving the SUV that deputies shot at, is recovering from bullet wounds he suffered when the chase ended on Butler Avenue early May 9. Hospital officials said he has asked that no information be given about his condition.
“This was a state of manic madness ... a source of scandal and shame,” Jackson said. “The FBI should be involved. This was, in fact, a hate crime.”
But Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials said the shooting got out of hand when deputies mistakenly believed they were being fired upon. Nine of the 10 deputies apologized for the shooting through a lawyer Friday, and Sheriff Lee Baca publicly questioned the deputies’ response last week.
“We cannot question their sincerity” in apologizing, Jackson said while standing next to Hayes’ two daughters, “but we can question their behavior.”
Jackson’s trip to L.A. came just days after the Rev. Al Sharpton visited with Hayes and denounced the deputies’ actions.
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