Usman Chaudhry by Moe

Name of Deceased: Mohammed Usman Chaudhry
DOB: 07/17/1986
Age: 21

Brief background of Usman Chaudhry:
Usman would frequently leave his parents house and live with friends/acquaintances in the downtown Hollywood area. He would come home to the parents every couple of months or so. His last visit was thanksgiving of 2007.
He was a very loved and protected member of the immediate and extended family/amongst his cousins/uncles and aunts.

Summary of Details Known To Date

1. On April 15th made aware by police as well as a case worker that our son, Usman Chaudhry had been shot and killed by police back in March 15th @ 0400 HRS and that we could go and claim his body from the mortuary
2. When later questioning the LAPD Force officer it was disclosed that his ID was found on his body
3. When researching the newscasts from that day, multiple news channels reported the event and that the name of the deceased would be disclosed only after the next of kin were informed
4. Same research shows that his name and age (accurate) were disclosed and a news article was run in the LA Times

Point A:
a) Why did it take either the police or the coroner’s office 21 days to notify the next of kin when they had all the details on how to contact his family and notify them about the death.
b) What new information did they receive or find in the 21 days that then allowed them to contact the family?
c) Was this deliberate to hide any other physical abuse that he may have suffered as his body has deteriorated after being kept refrigerated for 21 days
d) Upon speaking with a case officer for the LAPD Force – we were told that the case was being investigate and that it could take upwards to 7-8 months before any final reports/conclusions were made.

5. With respect to the shooting itself – there are contradictory reports (albeit news media reports) that the police on a routine patrol found a transient sleeping (a) behind bushes (b) under an apartment complex (c) in an enclave on the sidewalk.
6. When they attempted to wake Usman up – he pulled a knife and stabbed the officer in his hand (claimed) at which point the police officers shot him 3 times at point blank range in his upper chest.
7. News media interviews of residents – two loud shots were fired in succession and then a third gun shot was heard

Point B:
e) Why did the police stop and attempt to wake up Usman @ 4:00 in the morning when NO reports were made by residents or other parties when obviously Usman was asleep. Probable cause other than he was a transient sleeping downtown Hollywood
f) How can someone asleep laying down on his face (by reports of the police and media) be woken up and suddenly pull a knife and be able to stab an officer
g) Why were they not able to direct him/pin him down or let him know exactly what they wanted him to do i.e. spread his hands – not reach for pockets etc which is supposed to be standard police procedure
h) How come 2 fully uniformed police officers were not able to (if Usman did make a threatening move) – subdue him using other methods such a pepper spray or even a taser
i) Why was a fatal shot or shots fired at his stomach/point blank – and all together 3
j) What warnings or other techniques/methods were applied before a gun was drawn and discharged
k) What was the partner of the police officer (Joseph Cruz – who supposedly fired the fatal shots) doing while this event unfolded

8. Usman has never had an aggressive history throughout his life. He has no past record of being violent or showing any violent tendencies to outsiders or even family members
9. Contrarily Usman would avoid confrontation at all times – he would physically tremble even if spoken to with a loud voice
10. He had previously disclosed to his sister (Asma) to avoid the police at all times and that if he saw them to walk away from them and not confront them

Point C:
l) The family feels as though this was excessive use of force by the police, in this case by officer Joseph Cruz. Was this the first time the officer had been put on leave for using excessive force.
m) How many other fatal shootings or excessive force investigations have been made against the same officer
n) Which hand and what was the exact nature of the injury to the officer which prompted him to draw and discharge his weapon when so claimed that he was stabbed in his hand. Why was it not the other officer that carried out actions if officer Joseph Cruz was wounded
o) There was no just cause in fatally shooting Usman that we know of – for a person that at all times had shied away from violence and confrontation it makes NO sense whatsoever that the events unfolded as reportedly told by the police in their press statements.

The family would like closure. They believe this was an unjustified shooting and homicide. There are discrepancies in what information we have gotten to know over the course of the last 48 hrs.
There is a total blackout of information forthcoming from the police dept.
The family seeks guidance from CAIR or any other organization as to what to do next. We (the family) will pursue the case till we get complete closure and are satisfied with the report/findings and vehemently deny that the story went down as told by the police.