Charges Against Former Torrance Officers Dropped in Christopher DeAndre Mitchell’s Fatal Shooting Case
Manslaughter Charges Dismissed Against Former Torrance Officers
TORRANCE, Calif. – A Los Angeles judge has dismissed voluntary manslaughter charges against two former Torrance police officers in connection with the 2018 shooting of Christopher DeAndre Mitchell. Judge Sam Ohta ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The incident occurred on December 9, 2018, when officers surrounded a stolen Honda Civic in a supermarket parking lot. During a brief and chaotic encounter lasting just 12 seconds, officers fired their weapons after mistakenly believing Mitchell was reaching for a firearm, which was later identified as an air rifle.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman supported the judge’s decision, noting that his office could not meet the legal standard required to prove that the officers acted without a “reasonable belief that they were in imminent peril.” Following a thorough review, Hochman stated that the evidence did not support a charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Mitchell’s mother, Sherlyn Haynes, attended the court hearing and expressed her devastation. “I’m hurt and angry. My son had rights, too. He deserved to live… Real change has to happen,” she said, criticizing the officers’ actions as those of "judge, jury, and executioner."
The timeline leading up to the charges includes a detailed examination of the events and previous legal decisions. Initially, then-District Attorney Jackie Lacey’s office declined to file charges, deeming the use of force justified. However, in 2023, then-District Attorney George Gascón reopened the case, leading to the grand jury indictment of the officers. Ultimately, this year, Hochman’s office requested the dismissal of the case, which the judge approved.
Key aspects of the incident remain unclear, specifically the exact movements made by Mitchell in the moments before the officers fired their weapons. A report from the District Attorney’s Office noted that Mitchell was not visible on police body-camera footage during the critical seconds leading up to the shots fired.
In his ruling, Judge Ohta emphasized the need for impartiality in the court, stating, “Courts do not make decisions based on the feelings of the public. This is not a civil rights case. This is a voluntary manslaughter case.”
The dismissal effectively ends criminal proceedings against ex-officers Matthew Concannon and Anthony Chavez, who faced up to 11 years in prison. While the legal case is closed, community activists, including supporters of Black Lives Matter and Mitchell’s family, have pledged to advocate for systemic changes in law enforcement practices surrounding use-of-force incidents in Los Angeles County.
