Family of man shot 33 times by sheriff's deputies demands answers
Family and friends protest the death of Fredrick Holder out side the Norwalk Sheriff station on Tuesday. Officers shot Holder 17 times in June last year. (Photo by Vincent Medina)
NORWALK – Friends and family of Fredrick Holder continued their 33-day protest Tuesday in front of the LA County Norwalk Sheriff Station to raise awareness for Holder’s case.
The 28-year-old unarmed Black man was shot by LA County Sherrif deputies Jackie Rojas, Javier Fierros and Christopher Conger on June 23, 2021.
According to the police report, Holder was driving a stolen white utility box truck and was originally noticed for driving recklessly with the tailgate open. After yielding to police, he tried to evade law enforcement and sped away to merge with the Alondra Boulevard intersection of the southbound 605 freeway, but was stopped by traffic.
As officers tried to approach him, Holder allegedly waved a lighter resembling a handgun at the police. The three deputies fired 33 bullets at Holder, with 17 hitting his body.
Holder’s family was angered that law enforcement used that level of firepower, believing there was a safer way to stop him.
“I don’t know why they would use such excessive force,” said Naketia Phillips, Holder’s step-sister. “They said he was a hazard because his hatchback was open, but they fired 33 rounds in the middle of an intersection. They didn’t think that would be hazardous?”
April Holder, Fredrick Holder’s mother, also waved signs protesting the death of her son and acknowledging that he was driving a vehicle that did not belong to him.
“Regardless of what my son did, he did not deserve to be shot at 33 times. He did not deserve to be shot 17 times,” said April Holder.
The protesters organized the protest to be 33 days long, one day for each bullet the police fired at the young man.
Holder’s family is also calling for the three deputies to be held accountable for their actions and for law enforcement to use better methods of keeping people safe.
LA County Sherrif Alex Villanueva addressed the family’s concerns at a recent Norwalk city hall meeting, saying that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
“There’s a process to do everything, alright? We don’t skip a process to satisfy someone’s demand,” said Villanueva. “We do not skip a process. Understand this, everyone is entitled to due process.”
“The case has been in effect for nine months and nothing has happened,” said Phillips. “It still hasn’t reached the DA’s desk.”
Holder left behind his 17-month-old son, Raymire Holder, and girlfriend Raylene Johnson
“I’m going to miss seeing his face,” said April Holder, holding back tears. “I’m going to miss his phone calls and when he used to pop by my house.”
This Friday, the Holder family plans to invite local high schools to the protest to voice their concerns with local law enforcement.
They also plan to continue demonstrating every day until March 8, when they will protest at the Alondra Boulevard intersection to the 605 Freeway.