Anthony Dwain Lee - Investigation

Investigation

The LAPD and L.A County D.A. Steve Cooley both launched investigations to determine if Officer Hopper's actions were in line with policy. According to Officer Hopper, while he was searching the area outside the home, he noticed one party attendant standing outside looking "intently" through a glass door. Officer Hopper approached the man and looked through the door to see Lee and his friends talking in what Officer Hopper described as a "very dimly lit room". Lee was standing in front of Officer Hopper slightly to the left wearing his devil mask on top of his head. Officer Hopper stated the when he shined his flashlight in the room, he saw what he suspected to be a drug deal transpiring. Officer Hopper accounted the rest of the events during his interview with investigators:

"The male Black (Lee) turns and looks toward the glass door where I'm positioned... He looks directly at me and we make eye contact. Almost simultaneously, upon making eye contact, he reached for his waistband...with his right hand...and removed a blue steel semi-automatic handgun...at which point, fearing for my life, I drew my weapon from my holster and, after he removed the gun he pointed the weapon, his gun, right at me and fearful for my safety and my life I fired my weapon, my service weapon...During this entire time, it happened very, very quickly, his gun was continually pointing at me...I fired my weapon, continually assessing the situation, and it was very, very rapid and I fired...and he never dropped the weapon...he never made an attempt to drop the weapon or anything. The weapon stayed pointed toward me...while firing, I'm moving backwards toward a position of cover and, as this is happening, I recognize that my weapon is out of battery."

In conjunction with their investigation, the LAPD employed an expert who created a computer reenactment based on physical evidence of the shooting. According to the LAPD, the reenactment supported Officer Hopper's version of events. In October 2001, the LAPD internal review board ruled that Officer Hopper's actions were justifiable and he was "in policy" using deadly force. According to LAPD officials, the board also recommended that Officer Hopper seek additional training to "improve his tactics".