Latasha Harlins

Latasha Harlins (1976-1991) was an African- teenager shot and killed by Soon Ja Du, an elderly Korean-American liquor store worker. Although the store, Empire Liquor, was normally staffed by Du's husband and son, she was working behind the counter the morning of March 16, 1991, because her son had received death threats from gang members and her husband was out resting. Harlins' death came just 13 days after the videotaped beating of Rodney King by LAPD officers.

In a video captured by the security camera in the store, Latasha Harlins was seen putting a $1.79 bottle of orange juice into her backpack. Du observed this action by Harlins, but did not notice that Harlins had then approached the store's counter with money in her hand. Empire Liquor had frequent problems with shoplifting and burglary, and Du confronted Harlins by grabbing Harlins' sweater. Harlins responded by punching Du four times, the second blow knocking Du to the ground. Du then threw a stool and immediately reached under the counter to retrieve a gun. As Harlins turned around and began to leave the store, Du fired and shot Harlins in the back of the head and then passed out.

Du's husband, Billy Heung Ki Du, heard the shot and rushed into the store to dial 9-1-1. However, it was too late; Harlins was dead.
Du would be convicted of voluntary manslaughter and given a sentence of 5 years probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine by Judge Joyce Karlin after the jury in her trial had recommended a 16 year jail sentence.

The incident and sentencing by the court exacerbated already existing tensions between African-American residents and Asian-American merchants in the area. Those tensions would prove to be one of the catalysts of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and indeed the Harlins incident specifically would result in a wave of crimes committed by African-Americans against Korean-Americans prior to and during those riots.

During enusing years, rapper Tupac Shakur referenced Harlins and her killing in several of his songs.

Notes

# "Slain Girl Was Not Stealing Juice, Police Say Shooting", Los Angeles Times, March 19, 1991# "A Senseless and Tragic Killing New tension for Korean-American and African-American communities", Los Angeles Times, March 20, 1991