A SWAT unit was not negligent when a 19-month-old girl was shot and killed during an attempted hostage rescue in 2005, according to an appellate court's ruling.
The 2nd District Court of Appeal on Monday affirmed the decision by Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu, who found the LAPD officers had acted reasonably in using deadly force. Treu dismissed the family's case in 2009.
Suzie Pena was killed by a SWAT officer's bullet after the team entered the car dealership where the girl was being used as a shield by her father, who was armed and fired at police. The appellate panel found that the force used by officers was reasonable, given that Suzie's life was in peril.
Copyright The Associated Press
