Killing of Latasha Harlins

Latasha Harlins (1976-1991) was a 15-year old African American girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991, by Soon Ja Du, a female Korean American store owner. Harlins was a student at Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California.

Summary

The South Los Angeles store, Empire Liquor, was normally staffed by Du's husband and son. However, on the morning of the shooting, Du was working behind the counter because her son had received death threats from local gang members against whom he was testifying in court and her husband was out resting in the family's van. Harlins' death came just 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King by Los Angeles Police Department officers.

In a video captured by the security camera in the store, Latasha Harlins was seen putting a bottle of orange juice into her backpack. Du observed this action by Harlins, but apparently did not notice that Harlins had then approached the store's counter with money in her hand. Empire Liquor had experienced frequent incidents involving criminal activities such as shoplifting and burglary. Du physically confronted Harlins by grabbing Harlins by the sweater and attempting to confiscate her backpack by force. Harlins defended herself by striking Du three times, knocking Du on her bottom. Du then threw a stool and immediately reached under the counter to retrieve a handgun. Harlins threw the orange juice that was the source of the conflict onto the counter, turned and started to leave the store. Du fired at Harlins from behind and shot her in the back of her head, then claims she fainted.

Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the shot and rushed into the store. After speaking with his bruised wife, who falsely claimed to have been robbed before fainting, he dialed 9-1-1 to report the shooting and supposed theft. Paramedics soon arrived. However, it was too late; Harlins was already dead, her two dollars still in her left hand.

Du testified on her own behalf, even claiming that it was self-defense and that her life was in danger, but her words were contradicted by the videotape and the statements of the two witnesses present at the time. Du was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and was subsequently sentenced to five years probation, four-hundred hours of community service, and US$500.00 fine. The sentence was decided by controversial Judge Joyce Karlin. The jury in Du's trial had recommended a 16-year jail sentence.

Impact

The incident and sentencing by the court exacerbated already existing tensions between African American residents and Korean American merchants in South Central Los Angeles. Those tensions would prove to be one of the catalysts of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. During the course of the riots, Empire Liquor Market was burnt to the ground.

Tupac Shakur has referenced Harlins and her killing in several songs, including "Thugz Mansion", "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto", "Hellrazor", "Something 2 Die 4", and "Keep Ya Head Up". The Harlins shooting is believed to be what fuelled Ice Cube's song "Black Korea".

External links

• Whose Sister Are You: Latasha Harlins, Soon Ja Du, and Joyce Karlin, A Case Study of Multicultural Female Violence and Justice on the Urban Frontier (PDF, 37 pages)