![The deputy-involved shooting death happened while deputies were serving a narcotics search warrant at a residence in the 36600 Block of 117th Street East in Littlerock. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]](https://www.theavtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/dep-involved-shooting-1-1024x631.jpg)
Tonya Pate, 50, filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, then-Sheriff Lee Baca and several deputies, alleging that the June 27, 2013, shooting of Eugene Mallory was unlawful.
![Eugene Mallory [Image courtesy Bergener Law]](https://www.theavtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Eugene_Mallory.png)
Deputies burst into the house without announcing themselves and found Mallory, a retired electrical engineer for Lockheed Martin, asleep in bed, where they shot him although he posed no threat, the lawsuit alleged.
Deputies denied Mallory was in bed when he was shot.
“The truth of the matter is a gentleman pointed a semi-automatic weapon at our deputies,” a sheriff’s spokesman said at the time the suit was filed.
Attorneys for Mallory’s widow alleged the shooting was “encouraged by an atmosphere of lawlessness within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” which they claimed was negligent in hiring and training deputies and deliberately indifferent to the civil rights of victims.
Pate’s attorneys said no trace of meth-related chemicals was ever found in the home, but the Sheriff’s Department alleged a marijuana-growing operation was discovered on the property.
The lawsuit also stated that the county coroner cremated and disposed of Mallory’s body at the request of out-of-state relatives, but without the consent of his widow.
The county denied the allegations leveled in the suit, but county attorneys recommended settlement, citing the risks and uncertainties of litigation.
Previous related stories:
Elderly man shot dead by deputies
Deputy-involved shooting death in Littlerock
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Me says
I was a juror, where Law Enforcement were going after this man’s stepson for Marijuana sales, they went on the basis of a tip an got an Illegal Search warrant stating there was a Meth lab on this property. Code Enforcement had been to the property several times for property violations, which of course this information wasn’t given to the Judge who signed the warrant. I’m sure that Code Enforcement sure would reported something Illegal if this had been going on. This was a elderly startled gentleman who was Hard of Hearing and had bad Vision, yes sleeping with a weapon by himself on his side . His wife had fallen asleep elsewhere on the property, cleaning out some of the property as she was told to do. All of this of course all this was was never divulged in court about this murder. It was only about Marijuana sales, drug paraphernalia which after deliberating more than 5 days we found this young gentleman Not Guilty” we learned about the FULL CASE afterwards.
Don says
Wongful Death, did you get the whole story, He had a gun and was pointing it at the Sheriff’s Dept. Any body ask where the wife was at the time?????? Try in another Housing unit on the property, with her boyfriend…… !.6 million she was asking for 6 million. Only thing is that She is such a greving widow….Didn’t even know where the body was taken after it was over…. The Man’s Sister had to take care of his remains, after months of letting him sit in the morgue
Tim Scott says
Does ANY of that absolve the sheriff’s department of acting on a tip they had no reason to believe and ginning up a warrant by lying to a judge?
Not that I’m buying any of your allegations as truth, I just don’t see any reason to dispute them since they have no bearing on the case.
Daniel says
Always a CI making false reports to either make money or lessen their time. Their handlers messed up. A good reason why not to Construct in the Antelope Valley. Destroying lives with false reports and more. Its the BLUE way of doing things.
Tim Scott says
While the local sheriff’s department is notorious it isn’t like the AV has cornered the market on the blue way of doing things…and one can hope that the current pressures for reform, produced without resorting to riot, will make for movement in the right direction. Unless you want to move rootlessly about as conditions change you have to just dig in and fight to improve whatever place you call home. For me that’s Palmdale.
Ginger says
WTF?!!! An 80 year old man!!?? Really!!??! SMDH! That just sickens me! There needs to be a full blown IA investigation as well as an independent investigation on the huge rise of LEO misconduct period!
Complaints filed against LE misconduct SHOULD be thoroughly investigated and include all LEO involved in the matter. Perhaps an ombudsman or similar entity could be contacted.
That ” alleged” claim >”the Sheriff’s Department alleged a marijuana-growing operation was discovered on the property.”< is another smokescreen to bolster their defense for the out and out killing of this poor old man who was unarmed and asleep!
Their claim is beyond lame since that surely doesn't justify the crime of murder!
What a shame that man's last years of life ended in such a tragedy. I'm glad that the lawsuit against those savages was won.
HateTheAV says
What kind of sick freak of a pig would do something like this.? This cop should get the electric chair for this. And, chalk up one more disgusting travesty to the War on Some Drugs. The only good cop is….
Danny says
Only case to date I would agree a payout is due. If all this is true more a less and some one busted down my door I would pull a guy too.
This Hobbs guy should be paying out of his pocket and doing time.
Flint says
The part that I wonder about is the lying by the cop to obtain a warrant and e cop allowing himself to be used as a revenge against someone else. Beyond a lawsuit, what happened to that officer? He created much of this death with cutting corners and getting cozy with criminals. He should hopefully have at least been fired.
M.S says
Exactly and charged. As citizens we would definitely get charge lying under oath. Due to that an 80 year old man life was innocently taken. If he did have a gun he’s 80 protecting his self and no one announces it’s the police. Sad the family deserves it +++ more.
Jason Zink says
It’s hard to believe this happens in America by the people that are suppose to protect us. Eugene was a good man. Common Sense would of told you to investigate the owners of the property first and what action to take. Maybe the Sheriff and Judge knowing who he was would of knock on the old man’s door and ask him at 2pm or call him first. He was a community person and long time retired worker from Lockheed who didn’t lock his front door. Can imagine being woken up ambushed with guns in your face being 80 years old and this is how your life Ends….very sad. Then for the Sheriff to say they found a pot plant (its legal to grow in California ) to justify the killing. It’s unbelievable! This man needs justice he was murdered! The lawsuit is totally justified!
ItSucks says
The lawsuit maybe justified, but who do you think is paying for it? That would be you and me and every other taxpayer. It sucks.
jip joe says
Deputy Patrick Hobbs is obviously an insecure little man. take this settlement out of his pension, no need to make taxpayers pay for idiocy.
Dauntless says
Bad cops costing the county lots of money, not to mention, the emotional toll that this man’s death caused his family. I’m glad the family wins the law suit. I would hope that the cops involved are no longer on the force? And are no longer able to “Serve and Protect “our community. Obviously, the “forces that be” wanted to keep the whole story from being heard in a courtroom.