What happened to Latasha Harlins?

 

Latasha Harlins was a 15-year-old girl who was fatally shot by Soon Ja Du, a 51-year-old Korean-born female convenience store owner. Du was tried and convicted of voluntary manslaughter in Harlins' death. Although the jury recommended a sentence of 16 years, Judge Joyce Karlin sentenced Du to time served, five years of probation, 400 hours of community service, a $500 restitution, and funeral expenses. The death of Latasha Harlins, was recorded on security footage. 

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Latasha Harlins was born July 14, 1975 in East St. Louis, Illinois, to Crystal Harlins and Sylvester "Vester" Acoff Sr. Latasha had one younger brother, Vester Acoff Jr. and one younger sister, Christina. The family moved from Illinois to South Central Los Angeles in 1981. When Latasha was six years old, her father took a job in a steel foundry while her mother worked as a waitress in a local tavern. They lived near 89th St. and Broadway, just a few blocks from where Latasha would be killed ten years later. 

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Acoff Sr. was known to be abusive towards Crystal Harlins, attacking her in front of Latasha and her younger siblings. Their unstable marriage eventually ended in 1983. On November 27, 1985, Crystal was brutally shot dead outside a Los Angeles nightclub by Cora Mae Anderson, Acoff's new girlfriend, leaving Latasha and her younger siblings in the care of their maternal grandmother (the ex-mother-in-law of Latasha's abusive father), Ruth Harlins. The death of her mother had a devastating impact on Latasha who began to rebel and argue with her maternal grandmother and her maternal aunt Denise (the sister of Latasha's late mother). Their relationship worsened further when Latasha, then 14, was groomed by a counselor at the local recreational center named Jerry Foster, who was between 29 and 32 years-old. At the time of her death, Latasha was a student at Westchester High School. 

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Soon Ja Du's store, Empire Liquor, located at the intersection of 91st St. and Figueroa Ave. Vermont Vista, Los Angeles, was normally staffed by Du's husband and son. However, on the morning of the shooting, Du was working behind the counter, and her husband was outside resting in the family van. 

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Shortly before 10:00 am on Saturday March 16, Harlins entered the store. Du observed Harlins putting a $1.79 bottle of orange juice in her backpack. Du concluded Harlins was attempting to steal, and did not see the money Harlins held in her hand. Du claimed to have asked Harlins if she intended to pay for the orange juice, to which Du claimed Harlins responded, "What orange juice?" Two eyewitnesses disputed that claim, saying that Du called Harlins a "witch" and accused her of trying to steal, to which they claimed Harlins replied that she intended to pay for the orange juice. After speaking with the two eyewitnesses present and viewing the videotape of the incident, recorded by a store security camera, the police concluded that Harlins intended to pay for the beverage with money in hand. The videotape showed that Du grabbed Harlins by her sweater and snatched her backpack. Harlins then struck Du with her fist twice, knocking Du to the ground. After Harlins backed away, Du angrily threw a stool at her. Harlins then picked up the orange juice bottle that dropped during the scuffle, Du snatched the bottle from her, and Harlins turned to leave. Du reached under the counter, retrieved a revolver, and fired at Harlins from behind. The gunshot struck Harlins in the back of the head, killing her instantly. Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the gunshot and rushed into the store. After speaking to his wife, who asked for the whereabouts of Harlins before fainting, he dialed 9-1-1 to report an attempted holdup. 

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Du testified on her own behalf, claiming that the shooting was in self-defense and that she believed her life was in danger. But her testimony was contradicted by the statements of the two witnesses present at the time, as well as the store's security camera video, which showed Du shooting Harlins in the back of the head as the teenager turned away from Du and attempted to leave the store. On November 15, 1991 a jury found that Du's decision to fire the gun was fully within her control and that she fired the gun voluntarily. The jury found Du guilty of voluntary manslaughter, an offense that carries a maximum prison sentence of 16 years. The jury recommended the maximum sentence for Du. However, the trial judge did not accept the jury's sentencing recommendation and instead sentenced Du to five years of probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine.  

 

What can we do? 

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1. Share her story and say her name