January 5, 2000
Web posted at: 11:10 p.m. EST (0410 GMT)

In this story: Suit alleges couple asleep when shooting began Police defend action as self-defense RELATED STORIES, SITES

EL MONTE, California (CNN) -- Attorney Johnnie Cochran filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday against El Monte in connection with the police killing of a man at his home during what should have been a routine search.

Cochran filed the suit on behalf of the family of Mario Paz, who was killed August 9, 1999. The suit also names as defendants the city of Compton and George Scott Hopkins, an El Monte police officer.

Cochran called Paz's death "one of the most reprehensible, vicious and callous acts of police brutality in the city of El Monte," a city of about 100,000 just south of downtown Los Angeles.

Suit alleges couple asleep when shooting began

According to the lawsuit, a SWAT team wearing camouflage, military head gear and black ski masks fired their shotguns in the front and rear entrances of Paz's Compton home while an armored personnel carrier and helicopter backed them up.

The suit alleges that Paz and his wife Maria were asleep in their beds when the shooting began. Maria says in the suit that she heard an officer say, "I think we hit the wrong house" when she and her son George were being detained outside.

Police defend action as self-defense

In a statement released August 26, the El Monte Police Department said Paz "began to reach toward a dresser drawer on the floor adjacent to him. One of the officers, fearing that he was arming himself, fired two rounds, striking Mr. Paz."

Police say they found $10,000 in cash and four weapons in the Paz home.

Asked about the suit, police spokesman John Pilger said officials have not seen it and do not want to speculate.

Pilger said the officers in question were "executing a search warrant" at the time of the shooting. They were led to the Paz home while investigating other sites during the day where they had confiscated large quantities of marijuana.

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