Board: Shooting civilians during manhunt for ex-cop violated policy

Chris Carlson / AP

LOS ANGELES — A civilian oversight board has determined that eight Los Angeles police officers violated department policy when they mistakenly opened fire on two women during the manhunt for rogue ex-cop Christopher Dorner.

The Police Commission's decision announced Tuesday leaves the question of disciplinary measures to Police Chief Charlie Beck. The officers have been assigned to non-field duties pending the internal investigation.

Dorner had vowed warfare on Los Angeles police officers and their families early last year for what he called an unfair firing. He killed the daughter of a former police official and her fiance, and two law enforcement officers during a 10-day run from authorities.

The mistaken shooting occurred Feb. 7, 2013.

Margie Carranza and her then 71-year-old mother, Emma Hernandez, were delivering newspapers around 5 a.m. when LAPD officers guarding the Torrance home of a target named in Dorner's online manifesto blasted at least 100 rounds at their pickup.

Hernandez was shot in the back, and Carranza suffered minor injuries.

In April, the city agreed to pay the pair $4.2 million. The agreement was in addition to a separate $40,000 settlement for the loss of the women's pickup truck.