Anthony Lowe — Double Amputee Shot 11 Times by Huntington Park PD
Anthony Lowe, a 36-year-old Black man missing both legs below the knee, was fatally shot by Huntington Park police officers on January 26, 2023. According to the family's lawsuit, officers dumped Lowe from his wheelchair and shot him 11 times as he tried to hobble away on his stumps. Police claimed Lowe had a 12-inch butcher knife and had stabbed a man earlier that day. The LA County DA declined to charge the officers. A judge ruled that "the video footage does not demonstrate objectively reasonable police conduct as a matter of law" and ordered the case to civil trial.
What Happened
On January 26, 2023, Huntington Park police responded to a report that a man had stabbed someone in the area. They encountered Anthony Lowe, 36, who was in a wheelchair. Lowe had lost both legs below the knee. Officers alleged Lowe was armed with a 12-inch butcher knife and refused to drop it.
What happened next was captured on video. According to the family's lawsuit, officers knocked Lowe out of his wheelchair and he attempted to move away on his stumps. Two officers then opened fire, striking him 11 times. Lowe died at the scene.
The shooting sparked national outrage. Lowe's family called it "murder" -- arguing that a man with no legs, even if armed with a knife, posed no serious threat that justified lethal force. A judge reviewing the video evidence agreed that the footage did not clearly show Lowe threatening the officers with a knife and found the officers' conduct was not "objectively reasonable as a matter of law."
Despite this, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to file criminal charges against the two officers, citing insufficient evidence. The case was sent to civil trial, scheduled for January 12, 2026.
Key Players
Timeline
Outcome
Criminal accountability was denied when the DA declined charges. The civil trial, scheduled for January 2026, will determine whether the officers violated Lowe's civil rights. The judge's ruling that video evidence does not show "objectively reasonable" conduct is a significant blow to the officers' defense and suggests the jury will have strong evidence to consider.
Why This Matters
The killing of Anthony Lowe raises fundamental questions about use-of-force standards against disabled individuals. A man with no legs, even holding a knife, cannot pursue or seriously threaten an armed officer who can simply step backward. The case has become a national symbol of excessive force against people with disabilities and the failure of DAs to hold officers accountable even when video evidence contradicts their accounts.