Romarion Lamar White

Deadly force

Romarion Lamar White was shot by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies on February 5, 2011. He became paralyzed from the waist down from the shooting. He reportedly had a history of smoking PCP, and reportedly still using the drug at the time of his death. On October 8, 2016, he was found dead at a friend's house. Drug paraphernalia was found. On February 5, 2011, at about 9:45 p.m., a person was driving on Thomas Avenue in Palmdale, when he allegedly saw Romarian Lamar White walking in the middle of the street holding a handgun. His friend called 9-1-1 to report the incident. Deputies Scott Sorrow, Michael Luter, and Nathan Gillespie responded. Deputy Sorrow was driving a marked patrol other while Deputies Michael Luter and Nathan Gillespie were in a second marked patrol other. They received the call from dispatch of a man carrying a gun and acting strangely. As deputies approached Thomas Avenue, they saw White walking on the sidewalk. Deputy Sorrow used his other spotlight and illuminated White. When White saw Deputies Luter and Gillespie's patrol car, he started running toward Sorrow. Sorrow and Luter exited their patrol vehicles and pointed their guns at White. Sorrow commanded White to put his hands up and get on the growid. White placed his bands inside his waistband and began running away. White stopped, turned toward Sorrow and simultaneously brought his hands up from his waistband. Fearing that White was drawing a gun from his waistband, Sorrow fired one shot that struck White in the left shoulder area. White fell to the ground and placed his hands into his waistband. Deputies ordered White to show his hands. Eventually, White complied and was handcuffed.