Keenan Anderson: D.C. charter school teacher dies after LAPD electrocuted him during winter break

WASHINGTON – A DC charter school mourns the death of a beloved teacher who died after he was taken into custody by the LAPD during winter break.

In a statement posted on the Digital Pioneers Academy website, school founder Masha Ashton said the school community is “deeply saddened by Mr. Keenan Anderson’s death.”

The 10th grade English teacher passed away on Jan. 3 while visiting family in Los Angeles, according to the statement.

Ashton described Anderson as a deeply dedicated educator and father of a 6-year-old son. She called the details of his death both “troubling” and “tragic.”

“He went into cardiac arrest after being forcibly restrained and electroshocked repeatedly by police after a traffic accident,” the letter reads. “Keenan is the third person to be killed by LAPD in 2023, and the new year is 12 days away.”

CONNECTED: Body camera video shows LAPD detaining a man involved in a Venice crash with a stun gun.

According to FOX 11 LA, Anderson’s death is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

LAPD officials said a police officer was arrested on January 3 for a car accident that occurred near Venice and Lincoln Boulevards shortly before 3:40 p.m. The officer said that when he arrived at the scene, Anderson was acting erratically and that he had seen him run. in the middle of the street.

Witnesses also told the LAPD that Anderson was the cause of the accident.

The officer spoke to Anderson and called in additional units to investigate the DUI.

LAPD officials said that as additional units arrived, Anderson fled the scene, leading to a chase on the east lane of Venice Boulevard. After some time, the officers contacted Anderson, who they said began to resist, leading to the use of force.

“Officers wrestled with Anderson for several minutes, using a taser, body weight, strong grips and joint locks to overcome resistance,” the LAPD said in a written press release.

Anderson was handcuffed at the scene and was “limping at the ankles”. After the arrest, firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department were called to the scene and provided medical assistance after the application of TASER. He was taken to a Santa Monica hospital where he went into cardiac arrest and died, authorities said.

As a result of the incident, an LAPD officer was injured, he has minor abrasions on his arms.

Ashton said Anderson was the third member of the Digital Pioneers Academy school community to be the victim of violence in the past 65 days. Two high school students – Antione Manning, 14, and Jahi Snyder, 15 – died last fall in separate gun incidents.

“Our community is in mourning,” Ashton said in a statement. “But we are also angry. We are angry that once again a well-known, beloved and respected member of our community is no longer with us. Angry that another talented, beautiful black soul left too soon.”

FOX 5 spoke to an expert on the use of force, who said officers were trained on the dangers of direct stun guns to the area near the heart.

The coroner’s office is continuing an investigation to determine the cause of death.

Anderson is remembered as a father and teacher

Those close to him remember Anderson as an English teacher and father of a six-year-old child.

His cousin, Patrice Cullors, is the co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement.

She paid tribute to her cousin on social media: “This is my cousin Keenan Anderson. He was killed by LAPD in Venice on January 3, 2023. My cousin was a teacher and worked in a high school.–aged children. He was an English teacher.”

She went on to write, “Keenan deserves to be alive right now, his child deserves to be raised by his father. Keenan, we will fight for you and all our loved ones affected by state violence.”

His family has not yet commented on the LAPD’s recollection of the events.

Black Lives Matter LA reported that LAPD killed three people in 2023, including at least two black people, including Anderson and Takara Smith.

In connection with the death of BLM Los Angeles call for resignation Los Angeles Police Chief Moore.

On Tuesday, the LAPD released body camera footage of the interaction with Anderson. The entire episode can be viewed on the department’s YouTube channel here.

Following the fatal incident, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued the following statement:

“I have serious concerns about the disturbing recordings that have been released today. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones who mourn the loss of Thakar Smith, Keenan Anderson and Oscar Sanchez.

A full investigation is ongoing and I promise that the City’s investigations into these deaths will be transparent and will reflect the values ​​of Los Angeles. I will ensure that the City’s investigations lead only to truth and accountability. In addition, officers involved must be placed on leave immediately.

Regardless of what these studies reveal, however, the need for urgent change is clear. We must reduce the use of force in general, and I absolutely do not accept excessive force. We must also lead our city forward—finally—to the mental health crisis that has been allowed to grow, fester, and cause so much harm to Angeleno individuals, their families, and our communities.

As a former medical professional, I am deeply concerned that mental health professionals were not called in, even when there was a documented history of past mental health crises. When there is no immediate danger to others, law enforcement should not be the first to respond when someone experiences a mental health crisis. I believe the officers and the Angelens agree with this.

Unfortunately, this is a national crisis, and in reviewing a sample of incidents in which people died during clashes with police as part of my legislative work in Congress, my office found that a third or more of the people involved are experiencing a mental health crisis. “The time has come for proven reforms to be universally rolled out and accelerated across the LAPD. Los Angeles should lead mental health reform and the use of force at the national level.

I appreciate Chief Moore’s decision to release the footage today. Policy allows up to 45 days before footage of violent incidents is made public, but I believe the LAPD should be as transparent and as responsive as possible.” who are experiencing such a tragic loss.”

FOX 11 LA contributed to this report.