As the nation continues to broil over last week's deadly shootings -- the police-involved shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and the Dallas shooting that killed 5 officers -- the Los Angeles Police Commission cleared two officers in the 2015 shooting death of a 30-year-old black woman.
SEE ALSO: Before Alton and Philando: 12 other black men killed by police, on videoIn their ruling, the commission said that tactics used by the officers were at fault for Redel Jones' death, but the officers' actions fell within the department's policy, noting the recovery of a long knife at the scene.
Tweet may have been deleted
The commission meeting was held behind closed doors and no further details were announced, but the full report was expected to be released later.
The incident happened last August when police responded to a report of a woman robbing a pharmacy with a large knife. Responding officers tracked down Jones, who police say matched the description of the woman, and shot Jones, killing her, when she allegedly lunged at them.
A witness to the shooting, however, told the Los Angeles Timesthat Jones was running away from officers when they shot her and that she never saw a taser deployed, as police claimed. Jones' shooting death became one of several taken up by local members of Black Lives Matter.
Tweet may have been deleted
Protesters gathered in downtown Los Angeles, including outside LAPD headquarters, ahead of the announcement.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
After the announcement, protesters marched to City Hall, where they blocked public access and police locked the doors to the building when protesters tried to gain entrance.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tuesday's announcement and protests follow a march last Friday in Los Angeles, led by rappers The Game and Snoop Dogg, that ended at LAPD headquarters where the rappers held a joint press conference with police officials. The meaning of the march, according to the group, was to open an ongoing dialogue about the relationship between the community and law enforcement in the wake of these shootings.
Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.
