ANAHEIM, Calif., July 24 (UPI) -- The mother of a man killed Saturday by Anaheim, Calif., police filed a $50 million lawsuit Tuesday, saying her son was unarmed and shot in the back.
The death of Manuel Angel Diaz, 25, whom police described as a known gang member, initiated three days of demonstrations and protests, including a march through Diaz' neighborhood Monday evening involving nearly 100 demonstrators and several burning trash cans, the Orange County (Calif.) Register reported Tuesday. There have been six officer-involved shootings in Anaheim this year, five involving fatalities. A demonstration at City Hall was scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon, the newspaper said.
Police shot and killed Joel Matthew Acevedo, 21, Saturday in what they said was an unrelated incident. Police also described Acevedo as a known gang member, and said he opened fire on officers during a foot chase.
The FBI is reviewing the incidents to determine if a civil-rights investigation is warranted, spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
Diaz' mother, Genevieve Huizar, filed her lawsuit in federal court, and intends to file a claim for damages against the city, her lawyer Dana Douglas said Tuesday. Douglas' statement quoted Huizar calling on police and members of the community to "ratchet down the violence."
