The family of a California man who was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer following an altercation intend to sue the city of Los Angeles, in pursuit of justice for their loved one.
37-year-old Hugo Cachua was allegedly shot and killed by off-duty police officer Victor Corral in May, after a fender bender escalated into a physical altercation.
"I lost a big part of my life, my inspiration," Cachua's brother, Luis, told KTLA 5. "He can never come back, just because this guy took his life for no reason."
The two men pulled over and exited their vehicles near North Euclid Avenue and West 6th Street following a reported fender bender. A passing vehicle with a dash cam attached captured the two men embroiled in a physical struggle, along with the sound of three gunshots. Cachua, who was unarmed, was shot in the back, his loved ones told KTLA 5.
"It started off as an altercation and it wound up as a murder," said friend of Cachua, Vangie Lozada.
Corral, who had been on medical leave from the LAPD for about a year following an injury he'd sustained, was allegedly not qualified on the shooting range at the time of Cachua's death due to taking an extended period of time off of the force, according to a statement provided to the Los Angeles Times by an LAPD source.
Corral, who was not arrested for the incident, reportedly returned to work the month after the incident occurred, in June.
Cachua's family have pointed out that Corral should not have been armed at the time of the altercation in the first place, as officers are not permitted to carry a concealed weapon under such circumstances per department policy.
On Tuesday night, Cachua's family held a demonstration against police brutality outside Los Angeles' City Hall, where they announced that they would be taking legal action against the city of Los Angeles and Officer Corral following the death of their loved one.
"Hugo was shot multiple times," stated the Cachua family's attorney, Rene Daley. "He had at least six bullet wounds and the final one appeared to be a bullet wound that went through his head. The officer paused in between his shooting for that last shot."
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