Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that his office has filed a motion to dismiss the charges against two Torrance police officers accused of fatally shooting a Black man in 2018.
At a Friday morning news conference, Hochman said his team, including special prosecutor Michael Gennaco, spent hundreds of hours reviewing the case and determined they could not prove the voluntary manslaughter charges against officers Anthony Chavez and Matthew Concannon beyond a reasonable doubt.
The shooting of 23-year-old Christopher DeAndre Mitchell led to months of Black Lives Matter protests at Torrance City Council meetings, demanding accountability from law enforcement. Hochman noted that the case has continued through the terms of three county district attorneys and two special prosecutors.
Hochman said Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta did not immediately issue a written opinion on Friday.
According to Hochman, on Dec. 9, 2018, around 8 p.m., Torrance police received a 911 call reporting a stolen Honda Civic. Chavez and Concannon were patrolling nearby when they located a vehicle matching the description pulling into a Ralph’s parking lot on Carston Street. The officers parked behind the car and approached.
Hochman said the vehicle windows were heavily tinted and the officers had difficulty seeing inside until one of them observed the passenger-side back window partially lowered.
The officers instructed Mitchell to place his hands on the steering wheel, and body-worn camera footage confirmed he followed the command. Concannon then directed Mitchell to open the driver’s door. At that moment, the officers allegedly saw “the butt of what looks like either a rifle or a shotgun … in between the legs of Mr. Mitchell at that point,” Hochman said.
Concannon ordered Mitchell to exit the vehicle, and the officers reported that Mitchell lowered his hands into his lap. They believed he was reaching for the suspected weapon.
Concannon fired one shot and Chavez fired twice. One bullet struck Mitchell. The officers attempted lifesaving measures, but Mitchell died at the scene.
Hochman said the investigation confirmed that Mitchell had an air rifle between his legs at the time he was shot.
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