Latasha Harlins
Prior to the height of, as well as being a pivotal factor to, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Latasha Harlins (1976-1991) was shot and killed by Soon Ja Du, a Korean-American liquor store owner. Although, the store, Empire Liquor, was normally staffed by Du's husband and son, she was working behind the counter the morning of March 16, 1991 because her son had received death threats from gang members and her husband was out resting. In a video captured by the security camera in the store, Latasha Harlins, a fifteen-year-old African-American girl, was seen putting a bottle of juice in her backpack. Empire Liquor had a history of shoplifting and burglary with upwards of 40 shoplifing incidents each week and being burglarized over 30 times. Becoming suspicious, Du confronted Harlins. During the dispute, Harlins slapped Du multiple times and Du threw a stool. In the video, Harlin withdraws and walks out the door before being shot in the back by Du. Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the shot and rushed into the store to dial 911. However, it was too late; Harlins was dead. Du would be convicted of involuntary manslaugter and given an unusually light sentence of 5 years probabtion, community service, and fines. The incident as well as the sentencing by the court would result in a wave of hate crimes committed by African-Americans against Korean-Americans prior to the L.A. Riots. During the L.A. Riots, resentment against Korean-Americans resulted in the looting and torching of hundreds of Korean owned businesses.
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