The Police Execution of Saul Soriano

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The Police Execution of Saul Soriano
By O22 L.A.

As we know, police continue to kill civilians and justify their actions by portraying the victim as criminals. Police murdering innocents has grown into an epidemic, targeting poor people of color. Unfortunately, Policemen Bill of Rights protects an officer from getting fired, form being tried, from getting questioned for a certain period of time. We cannot rely on the courts to get justice for it is only through the people and by the people, that justice can be served.

On January 1, 2009 at 2:20am Saul Soriano, 41, father of four boys was killed in Arleta (in the San Fernando Valley) by three Los Angeles Police Department officers, in the attic of his home during a New Year Eve celebration with his family.

After collecting data through outreach in the community where Saul was killed, community and family members have shared their testimonies with community activists. One witness who was forced to evacuate his home by police officers said, frighten by the officers Saul refuged himself in the attic of his home. According to witness and family members of Saul, LAPD officers did not arrive at the scene with the intention of mediating with Saul but with the intention of killing him in cold blood.

Pictures of the Attic where Saul was shot in cold blood, you can see bullet holes and blood stains on the wall and ceiling



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While Saul was in the attic not visible in the dark, officers stood below diagonally from him, less than ten feet away reacted by pulling out a nine-millimeter gun and a shotgun that shredded his face. Because his body was not visible, the roof was tore apart and firefighters had to use a fire-truck crane to carried Saul’s body out of the attic. The community remains in trauma after witnessing LAPD officers murder Saul and carried his body out the roof.



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Further, more not only was Saul executed in cold blood but he was portrayed as a terrorist. Article cover by Paula Diaz in HOY (Spanish newspaper), title "Familias exigen una investigacion" (translated to "Families demand an investigation"), misrepresented Saul as a terrorist that had a bomb in his car. Outraged by his brother’s death Rafael, met with the Salvadorian Consulate to demand an investigation in regards to his brother's death by three LAPD officers. In addition, of being misrepresented as a terrorist, Saul was criminalized as a dangerous individual by Lt. John Romero, LAPD spokesperson. Romero insisted in justifying Saul’s death by stating that officers arrived at Saul’s house after a 911 call about a man firing shots in the air and threatening his family. Romero stated that Saul was armed when he was shot, but witnesses oppose his argument. Community members loved Saul and testify that he was a loving, dedicated father of four boys who although was divorce permitted his ex-wife to maintain in house and paid for all the families expenses.

In order to obtain Saul’s body, his brother, Rafael Soriano was required by the coroners office to obtain a letter of full power custody over his brother's dead body, signed by his parents who reside in El Salvador. Saul’s families along with neighbors remain in trauma and demand justice for Saul execution in cold blood by three LAPD officers.