Family of Corvette driver shot dead by LAPD to file $20-million claim

The family of a man who was shot dead by Los Angeles police on live television following a car chase in his Corvette plans to file a claim against the city for $20 million, their attorney said.

Dale Galipo, an attorney for the family, said the father of Brian Beaird “literally watched his son killed on live TV -- he sees it as murder.”

Galipo added that at the time Beaird’s father was watching the chase unfold on television, he didn’t know it was his son.

Police have faced numerous questions about the Dec. 13 shooting, which occurred after Beaird, 51, crashed his Corvette in downtown Los Angeles and staggered out of his vehicle.

Live footage from KTLA-TV showed Beaird briefly raising his hands with his back to officers, then grabbing his stomach and falling to the ground after police opened fire.

Police previously said they were looking into whether any nonlethal munitions were fired before the gunfire, prompting the shooting. The KTLA footage shows an object bounce and roll across the sidewalk almost simultaneously with gunfire.

Galipo, an attorney who has secured multi-million-dollar verdicts in police shooting cases, said the shooting was unjustified. The claim the family plans to file against the city is a legal precursor required when suing a California government entity.

Galipo and Beaird’s family are also planning a news conference outside LAPD headquarters Friday, where family members will describe the horror they felt when they learned the killing they watched on live TV was their own relative -- a retired military veteran.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck placed three of the officers who opened fire on extended leave Thursday.

Beck made the decision after a briefing from LAPD investigators examining the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. Detectives told Beck the officers from the LAPD’s Newton Division shot more than 20 times.

“After hearing the preliminary briefing, I am very concerned about the circumstances that led up to and resulted in this officer-involved shooting,” Beck said in a statement.

“Because of those concerns, I have directed that the three involved officers be assigned home pending the final results of the investigation,” he continued. “Determinations regarding training or possible disciplining of the involved officers will be made at that time.”

[For the record 12:45 p.m. PST Dec. 20: An earlier version of this post reported that Brian Beaird was shot to death on Nov. 13. He was killed on Dec. 13.]

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richard.winton@latimes.com