Kevin Gaines (police officer)
| Kevin Lee Gaines | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 6, 1966 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Died | March 18, 1997 (aged 31) Studio City, California, United States |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Country | United States |
| Years of service | 1990 - 1997 |
| Rank | Sworn in as an Officer - 1990 |
Kevin Lee Gaines (February 6, 1966 – March 18, 1997) was an officer assigned to the infamous Los Angeles Police Department Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums unit implicated in the Rampart Scandal.
Gaines had ties to Death Row Records, the Bloods, and dated Suge Knight's ex-wife. He was shot and killed on March 18, 1997, by undercover LAPD officer Frank Lyga, who was determined to be acting in self-defense. At the time of his death, Gaines was 31 and a seven-year veteran of the force.
The shooting of a black officer by a white officer fueled racial tensions and prompted a media frenzy. The investigation into Gaines's behavior also provided the first clues to the widespread police corruption of the Rampart Scandal.
Evidence of Gaines's corrupt behavior first surfaced in the summer of 1996. Police responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at a Hollywood Hills mansion. Gaines, off duty, showed up at the scene and is alleged to have initiated an altercation with the responding officers. The officers handcuffed Gaines when he became verbally abusive and provocative. According to police records, Gaines shouted profanities and stated, "I hate fucking cops."
Gaines claimed he was mistreated by the police and hired an attorney to file a claim against the city. However, when LAPD Internal Affairs investigated the incident, they discovered the 911 call had actually been made by Gaines himself. Investigating officer Russell Poole, who later became deeply involved in investigating the Rampart Scandal, claimed that "the evidence suggests that he did that to engage LAPD in a confrontation and basically wanted to secure a pension or whatever by filing a lawsuit."
Around 4:00 p.m. on March 18, 1997, undercover LAPD officer Frank Lyga shot and killed Kevin Gaines in self-defense, following a case of apparent road rage. According to Lyga and other witnesses' testimony, Gaines pulled his green Mitsubishi Montero up to Lyga's Buick. A confrontation ensued, with Gaines flashing gang signs at Officer Lyga. Gaines followed Lyga, brandishing a .45 ACP handgun. Lyga took out his gun and called for backup using a hidden radio activated by a foot pedal. Lyga's voice can be heard on police recordings, "Hey, I got a problem. I've got a black guy in a green Jeep coming up here! He's got a gun!"
...
Wikipedia