Family of man killed in confrontation with Los Angeles County deputy sues department
The family of a 50-year-old man with mental health issues who was shot and killed by a Los Angeles County deputy at a Valencia mall last year is suing the department, accusing the deputy of failing to de-escalate the situation and calling in police Take action.
Christopher Mercurio’s family alleges in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that sheriff’s officials did not respond during a Jan. 11, 2023, confrontation at Westfield Valencia Town Center. Aware that Christopher Mercurio had mental health issues.
“Rather than deploy a team that could de-escalate the situation or convene a psychological evaluation team, they sent a police officer to handle the situation,” the lawsuit states.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Times.
Body camera video of the incident shows Deputy Lorena Gonzalez responding to the mall that night after authorities received a call about a man briefly sleeping at the mall, the lawsuit states.
Video previously released by the Los Angeles City Health Department shows the incident quickly escalating, with Mercury threatening Gonzalez after approaching him near a parking lot.
Christopher Mercurio’s family claims in lawsuit that sheriff’s officials failed to recognize Christopher Mercurio’s death at Westfield Town Center in Valencia on Jan. 11, 2023 (Westfield Valencia Town Center) There were mental health issues involved in the conflict.
(Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department)
“I’m going to sleep here so you can do what you want,” Mercury said. “Either protect the fans or I’ll fucking destroy you as a human being, got it?”
Mercurio made comments about Iran and China and called himself “the security of the entire country” before appearing to reach for Gonzalez.
Mercurio’s family claimed in the lawsuit that Mercurio apparently suffered from mental health issues.
Mercurio was walking toward Gonzalez when the officer pointed the handgun directly at him and told the dispatcher she was in a fight. Despite being told to stop, Mercury appeared to continue walking and reached out to Gonzalez.
“Let me go,” she can be heard saying in the video. “I’m gonna shoot you, man.”
“Shoot!” Mercury can be heard saying before Gonzalez fires twice.
The video shows that after the first shooting, Mercurio continued walking toward Gonzalez.
Mercurio was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Gonzalez was treated at the hospital and released.
Mercury was unarmed and did not threaten Gonzalez, the lawsuit states.
“There is no possible way [Mercurio] causing any harm to the defendant [Gonzalez],” the lawsuit states.
Mercurio’s family is seeking an unspecified amount of compensation.
