15-year-old girl Latasha Harlins was shot and killed at Empire Liquor in South Central, Los Angeles. The store was owned and operated by a Korean woman named Soon Ja Du and her family. After entering the store, Latasha got a bottle of orange juice from the shelf and placed it in her backpack. She then took two dollars out of her pocket and walked up to the counter in order to pay for the drink.
Despite her money being present, Soon Ja Du was convinced that Harlins was trying to steal the beverage. She lunged at Latasha and grabbed her backpack. In response, Latasha punched Soon Ja Du three times and knocked her down to the ground. Du got up and threw a stool at Harlins, who picked up the orange juice and threw it on the counter. Harlins then turned her back to Du and attempted to leave the store when Soon Ja Du pulled out a gun and shot her in the back of the head, killing Latasha Harlins instantly.
The entire event was captured on the store’s security camera and the tape was used in the trial of Soon Ja Du. Her defense was an accidental shooting by way of self-defense. When all was said and done, Soon Ja Du was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, but the judge in the case ordered a sentence of only five years probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine.
The decision caused outrage in Los Angeles and a large number of Korean-owned businesses were attacked. The death of Latasha came only 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King and the case has been identified as one of the causes of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. In the riots, Empire Liquor was burned to the ground.
The following year, recording artist Tupac Shakur released a song called “Keep Ya Head Up” that was dedicated to the memory of Latasha Harlins. Tupac referenced Latasha in a large number of his songs.
Info found here...
Rapper Ice Cube composed a song about the incident for his album Death Certificate entitled "Black Korea".
In the 1990s this cemetery got into a lot of trouble for digging up graves, reselling grave plots, etc, and it is believed that her remains are no longer with her grave marker.
Info found here...
∼Latahsa Harlins was a 15 yr. old African-American girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991. A young life taken far too soon.
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Latasha is buried in Paradise Memorial Park which is located in Santa Fe Springs California. However, Harlins' plot was one of hundreds that was unearthed and resold. Unfortunately graves that were disturbed, the remains were just dumped in a pile. -- latimes 1995-06-28
Despite her money being present, Soon Ja Du was convinced that Harlins was trying to steal the beverage. She lunged at Latasha and grabbed her backpack. In response, Latasha punched Soon Ja Du three times and knocked her down to the ground. Du got up and threw a stool at Harlins, who picked up the orange juice and threw it on the counter. Harlins then turned her back to Du and attempted to leave the store when Soon Ja Du pulled out a gun and shot her in the back of the head, killing Latasha Harlins instantly.
The entire event was captured on the store’s security camera and the tape was used in the trial of Soon Ja Du. Her defense was an accidental shooting by way of self-defense. When all was said and done, Soon Ja Du was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, but the judge in the case ordered a sentence of only five years probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine.
The decision caused outrage in Los Angeles and a large number of Korean-owned businesses were attacked. The death of Latasha came only 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King and the case has been identified as one of the causes of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. In the riots, Empire Liquor was burned to the ground.
The following year, recording artist Tupac Shakur released a song called “Keep Ya Head Up” that was dedicated to the memory of Latasha Harlins. Tupac referenced Latasha in a large number of his songs.
Info found here...
Rapper Ice Cube composed a song about the incident for his album Death Certificate entitled "Black Korea".
In the 1990s this cemetery got into a lot of trouble for digging up graves, reselling grave plots, etc, and it is believed that her remains are no longer with her grave marker.
Info found here...
∼Latahsa Harlins was a 15 yr. old African-American girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991. A young life taken far too soon.
----------
Latasha is buried in Paradise Memorial Park which is located in Santa Fe Springs California. However, Harlins' plot was one of hundreds that was unearthed and resold. Unfortunately graves that were disturbed, the remains were just dumped in a pile. -- latimes 1995-06-28
15-year-old girl Latasha Harlins was shot and killed at Empire Liquor in South Central, Los Angeles. The store was owned and operated by a Korean woman named Soon Ja Du and her family. After entering the store, Latasha got a bottle of orange juice from the shelf and placed it in her backpack. She then took two dollars out of her pocket and walked up to the counter in order to pay for the drink.
Despite her money being present, Soon Ja Du was convinced that Harlins was trying to steal the beverage. She lunged at Latasha and grabbed her backpack. In response, Latasha punched Soon Ja Du three times and knocked her down to the ground. Du got up and threw a stool at Harlins, who picked up the orange juice and threw it on the counter. Harlins then turned her back to Du and attempted to leave the store when Soon Ja Du pulled out a gun and shot her in the back of the head, killing Latasha Harlins instantly.
The entire event was captured on the store’s security camera and the tape was used in the trial of Soon Ja Du. Her defense was an accidental shooting by way of self-defense. When all was said and done, Soon Ja Du was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, but the judge in the case ordered a sentence of only five years probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine.
The decision caused outrage in Los Angeles and a large number of Korean-owned businesses were attacked. The death of Latasha came only 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King and the case has been identified as one of the causes of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. In the riots, Empire Liquor was burned to the ground.
The following year, recording artist Tupac Shakur released a song called “Keep Ya Head Up” that was dedicated to the memory of Latasha Harlins. Tupac referenced Latasha in a large number of his songs.
Info found here...
Rapper Ice Cube composed a song about the incident for his album Death Certificate entitled "Black Korea".
In the 1990s this cemetery got into a lot of trouble for digging up graves, reselling grave plots, etc, and it is believed that her remains are no longer with her grave marker.
Info found here...
∼Latahsa Harlins was a 15 yr. old African-American girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991. A young life taken far too soon.
----------
Latasha is buried in Paradise Memorial Park which is located in Santa Fe Springs California. However, Harlins' plot was one of hundreds that was unearthed and resold. Unfortunately graves that were disturbed, the remains were just dumped in a pile. -- latimes 1995-06-28
Despite her money being present, Soon Ja Du was convinced that Harlins was trying to steal the beverage. She lunged at Latasha and grabbed her backpack. In response, Latasha punched Soon Ja Du three times and knocked her down to the ground. Du got up and threw a stool at Harlins, who picked up the orange juice and threw it on the counter. Harlins then turned her back to Du and attempted to leave the store when Soon Ja Du pulled out a gun and shot her in the back of the head, killing Latasha Harlins instantly.
The entire event was captured on the store’s security camera and the tape was used in the trial of Soon Ja Du. Her defense was an accidental shooting by way of self-defense. When all was said and done, Soon Ja Du was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, but the judge in the case ordered a sentence of only five years probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine.
The decision caused outrage in Los Angeles and a large number of Korean-owned businesses were attacked. The death of Latasha came only 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King and the case has been identified as one of the causes of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. In the riots, Empire Liquor was burned to the ground.
The following year, recording artist Tupac Shakur released a song called “Keep Ya Head Up” that was dedicated to the memory of Latasha Harlins. Tupac referenced Latasha in a large number of his songs.
Info found here...
Rapper Ice Cube composed a song about the incident for his album Death Certificate entitled "Black Korea".
In the 1990s this cemetery got into a lot of trouble for digging up graves, reselling grave plots, etc, and it is believed that her remains are no longer with her grave marker.
Info found here...
∼Latahsa Harlins was a 15 yr. old African-American girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991. A young life taken far too soon.
----------
Latasha is buried in Paradise Memorial Park which is located in Santa Fe Springs California. However, Harlins' plot was one of hundreds that was unearthed and resold. Unfortunately graves that were disturbed, the remains were just dumped in a pile. -- latimes 1995-06-28
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