Latasha Harlins Wiki, Age, Death, Family, Biography & More – WikiBio
👨🎤
Latasha Harlins, a 15-year-old African-American girl, was brutally shot and killed on March 16, 1991, by a 51-year-old Korean woman named Soon Ja Du of Vermont Vista, Los Angeles.
Wiki/Biography
Latasha Harlins was born on Thursday, January 1, 1976 (15; at the time of death) in East St. Louis, Illinois, USA. In 1981, her family moved from Illinois to South Central Los Angeles. Latasha is a student at Westchester High School in Los Angeles.
family and race
Latasha Harlins is of African-American ancestry.
parents and siblings
Latasha Harlins’ father, Sylvester Vester Acoff Sr., works at a steel foundry, and her mother, Crystal Harlins, works as a waitress at a local tavern in South Central Los Angeles. She has two younger siblings. A brother, Vester Acoff Jr., and a sister, Christina. Her father, Akov Sr., was abusive to her mother, Crystal Harlins, who regularly attacked Latasha in front of Latasha and her younger siblings. Ultimately, their marriage ended in 1983. On November 27, 1985, Latasha’s mother, Crystal Harlins, was shot and killed outside a nightclub in Los Angeles. Latasha has since been raised by her maternal grandmother, Ruth Harlings.
die
On the morning of Saturday, March 16, 1991, Latasha Harlins was shot dead by a Korean woman, Soon Ja Du, at the Empire Liquor store in Vermont Vista, Los Angeles.
According to reports, Du, the owner of the Imperial liquor store, said she saw Harlins put an orange juice bottle in her backpack and asked Harlins if he was going to pay for it. Harlins replied, “What orange juice?” So, Du grabbed Harlins’ sweater, accused her of stealing, and stole her backpack. In return, Harlins punched Du twice, knocking Du to the ground. Harlins backed away, but Du angrily threw a stool at her, missing Harlins. Harlins then picked up the orange juice bottle that had fallen in the chaos, but Du took the bottle from her. Harlins then turned to leave, but Du took a revolver from under the checkout counter and shot Harlins in the back of the head. Two witnesses to the incident disputed Du’s claims and said Du never asked Harlins’ intention to pay for the orange juice, instead calling her a “bitch.” After reviewing footage from the store’s surveillance cameras, police concluded that Harlins had money in his hand and was going to pay for the drinks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kiw6Q9-lfXc
Song Jiadu’s Trial and Sentencing
Soon Jadu testified on her own behalf, claiming she shot Harlins in self-defense because she believed her life was in danger. Du’s testimony contradicted two witnesses and video recovered from the store’s security cameras. The video exclusively shows Du shot and killed Harlins as she tried to leave the store empty-handed. On November 15, 1991, a jury found Du guilty and convicted Du of voluntarily shooting.
Since Mr. Du was guilty of manslaughter, the jury recommended a maximum sentence of 16 years for the crime. However, trial judge Joyce Karlin did not approve the jury’s recommendation and instead sentenced Du to five years of probation, 400 hours of community service and a $500 fine. The court said the crime was committed with extreme provocation and Du’s ability to act rationally in the circumstances was compromised by her past robbery experience. In July, following the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the Harlins received a $300,000 settlement.
in mass media
Hip-hop artist Tupac Shakur dedicated the song Keep Ya Head Up to Latasha Harlins. Since then, he has frequently mentioned Harlins in songs such as Something 2 Die 4, Thugz Mansion, I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto, etc. American author Sapphire wrote the poem “Kiwi Juice” in her book The American Dream, referring to the killing of Latasha Harlins. In 2020, Netflix released a documentary called “Latasha’s Love Song” to celebrate the life of Latasha Harlins.
Facts/trivia
- Joyce Karlin, while disapproving of the jury’s recommendation of 16 years in prison, said:
Did Mrs. Du react inappropriately? Absolutely. But is this reaction understandable? I think so. Carlin added: “This is not the time for revenge… Whatever sentence this court imposes on Mrs. Du, she will be punished every day for the rest of her life.” “
- Harlins was killed 13 days after Rodney King fell victim to LAPD police brutality. Both deaths contributed to the Los Angeles riots of 1992. The decision to sentence Du to just five years of probation has sparked outrage in Los Angeles, where numerous South Korean businesses have been attacked.
- The LAPD’s ballistics report also noted that the pistol used by Du had been modified to require far less trigger pressure than a regular pistol.
- During the riots of 1992, Du’s store was looted and never reopened. The property later became a market under different ownership.
- Latasha Harlins is buried next to her mother in Paradise Memorial Park in Santa Fe Springs, California.
Find more articles in our categories Celebrity & News et Wiki.
Thanks for visiting we hope our article Latasha Harlins Wiki, Age, Death, Family, Biography & More – WikiBio
, we invite you to share the article on Facebook, instagram and e-mail with the hashtag ☑️ #Latasha #Harlins #Wiki #Age #Death #Family #Biography #WikiBio ☑️!