Anthony Dwain Lee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anthony Lee | |
Born | July 17, 1961 Redding, CA |
---|---|
Died | October 28, 2000 (aged 39) Los Angeles, CA |
Occupation | Actor |
Anthony Dwain Lee (July 17, 1971 – October 28, 2000) was an African-American actor through the 1990s. He was shot to death by LAPD officer Terriel Hopper under mysterious circumstances during a Halloween party while wielding a toy gun.
[edit] Death
LAPD Officer Terriel Hopper was summoned to a Halloween party by neighbors who were complaining about the noise. When he entered the residence to locate the owner, he shined his flashlight on Lee. Lee, thinking the officer was another costumed partygoer, playfully pointed his toy gun at the officer. The officer fired nine shots, four of which struck Lee in the back and head, killing him instantly. One possible scenario is that the officer's first five shots missed completely, giving Lee time to turn around into a defensive back-facing posture before the final shots hit him.
The police investigation concluded that the shooting was a justified reaction by the officer, who mistakenly believed the costume gun to be real.