Jury reaches verdict in deadly 2018 Silver Lake Trader Joe's standoff

LOS ANGELES - Jurors have reached a verdict in the trial of Gene Evin Atkins, who faces murder and dozens of other charges stemming from a chaotic 2018 pursuit and shootout that ended inside a Silver Lake Trader Joe's grocery store.

What we know:

Gene Evin Atkins is charged with murder for the death of 27-year-old Melyda Corado, a Trader Joe's assistant manager who was fatally shot on July 21, 2018. 

Though a bullet from Los Angeles Police Department Officer Sinlen Tse’s gun killed Corado, prosecutors charged Atkins with her murder under a California legal theory holding him responsible for setting off the violent chain of events.

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Atkins faces more than 40 other criminal counts, including shooting and wounding his grandmother, kidnapping his girlfriend, and firing at LAPD officers Sinlen Tse and Sarah Winans. 

He has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. 

Atkins was ruled competent to stand trial in May 2021.

Dig deeper:

The trial follows a recent financial resolution for the victim's family. 

The city of Los Angeles agreed to pay a $9.5 million settlement to Corado's father and brother to resolve a November 2018 wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit.

Attorneys noted this represents the largest pre-trial settlement paid by the city for an LAPD shooting case. 

The Los Angeles Police Commission and the Office of the Inspector General previously reviewed the shooting and determined that the officers acted within department policy because they believed Atkins presented an immediate threat. 

The District Attorney's office declined to file criminal charges against the two officers.

Timeline:

• July 21, 2018: Atkins allegedly shoots his grandmother, kidnaps his girlfriend, and leads police on a high-speed chase. The pursuit ends at the Silver Lake Trader Joe's, where Atkins exchanges gunfire with police, resulting in the fatal shooting of Melyda Corado. Atkins holds dozens of hostages inside before surrendering.
• November 2018: Corado's father and brother file a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles and the involved officers.
• May 2021: Atkins is ruled mentally competent to stand trial.
• July 2023: On the fifth anniversary of the shooting, the LAPD issues a statement recognizing the family's loss while reaffirming that the police commission found the shooting "within department policy, albeit tragic."
• Recent Background: The Corado family's attorneys announce a $9.5 million pre-trial settlement with the city of Los Angeles.
• Today: The jury indicates it has reached a verdict, set to be read at 1:45 p.m.

What they're saying:

Following the recent civil settlement, John Taylor, an attorney for the Corado family, released a statement reflecting on the legal battle.

"We are pleased that the City has acknowledged their wrongdoing and taken responsibility for causing Mely’s death. After six years of fighting for justice for Mely, the Corado family’s persistence and demands for accountability were finally recognized."

The Corado family expressed their ongoing grief and shared their hopes for broader police reform.

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"Nothing will bring Mely back to us and we are forever heartbroken by her violent death caused by those who are meant to protect and serve the community. We will keep her memory alive always. We hope this settlement sends a loud message to LAPD and all law enforcement agencies across the country that officers must account for their surroundings when firing their guns."

During the civil litigation, Neil Gehlawat, another attorney representing the family, argued that the tragedy could have been avoided.

"Officers must look at the dangers posed to bystanders when using deadly force, and the officers here failed to do that."

What's next:

The verdict will be unsealed and read aloud in the courtroom at 1:45 p.m. 

Depending on the outcome of the criminal charges and the evaluation of the insanity plea, the court will determine the next steps for sentencing or psychiatric confinement.

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