'The summer of love became a summer of blood': Mom of teen shot dead in Seattle's CHOP zone files wrongful death against city's mayor Jenny Durkan after she branded anarchist area a harmless 'block party'
The mother of a teenage boy shot dead in Seattle's CHOP autonomous zone says the 'summer of love' hailed by city mayor Jenny Durkan became 'a summer of blood.'
Donnitta Sinclair launched a furious attack on Durkan, as well as Seattle's Emergency Services, Police Department, City Council and the State of Washington over her 19 year-old son Horace Lorenzo Anderson's murder in CHOP in 2020.
Speaking in a federal wrongful lawsuit filed against Durkan and multiple official agencies last month, Sinclair says: 'Considering the more than adequate knowledge of the danger and violence associated with the CHOP area, Seattle leaders failed Lorenzo and the community.
'The “summer of love” predictably became the “summer of blood.”
'Only after the preventable death of Lorenzo and others did Mayor Durkan finally announce Seattle would take back “CHOP”.'
19-year-old Horace Lorenzo Anderson (pictured) died after he was shot four times within Seattle's CHOP zone last summer
Anderson, a rapper known as 'Lil Mo,' was shot dead while visiting CHOP in the early hours of June 20.
Anderson's trip to the seven block police-free zone set up in one of Seattle's most desirable neighborhoods in the wake of George Floyd's murder allegedly saw him clash with Marcel Long.
Long is said to have been held back by friends after he and Anderson, who had graduated from high school the day before, exchanged words.
He allegedly shot his rival dead minutes later.
Long fled the scene shortly afterwards, and is yet to be apprehended.
The federal civil rights lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Lorenzo Anderson Estate, alleges that Seattle Police Department, Seattle Emergency Medical Services, and Seattle city officials were negligent and 'breached the duty of reasonable care' in failing to care for Anderson after he was shot four times within the CHOP area.
Donnitta Sinclair, left, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin, right, and others over the June 2020 murder of her son Horace Lorenzo Brown in the city's CHOP zone
Horace Lorenzo Anderson, 19, was killed last June during the Black Lives Matter protest (pictured) in the wake of the George Floyd murder
CHOP saw seven blocks of Seattle's desirable Capitol Hill neighborhood become an 'autonomous zone' for almost a month, leaving police too scared to enter it
The suit claims that Seattle Police and Seattle Fire responders were only two blocks away from where Anderson lay bleeding after being shot but 'failed to assist because of botched communication between the two city agencies and lack of sufficient planning and preparation.'
Seattle's Fire Department previously claimed it was too dangerous for them to enter CHOP without a police escort, with the lawsuit claiming that decision wasted time that could have saved Anderson's life.
The suit continues: 'Lorenzo Horace Daeshawn WRONGFUL DEATH was the result of the negligence of many. Essentially the system let him down...
'This WRONGFUL DEATH was both PREVENTABLE & PREDICTABLE.'
The suit also alleges that Long shot Anderson because he knew the area was a cop-free zone when he is said to have fired the four shots that killed Anderson around 2:19am.
Bodycam footage released by the Seattle Police Department shows several officers enter the CHOP zone to reach Anderson as protestors yell at them to put their guns down
911 was called immediately by civilians who were attempting to treat Anderson and pleading with medics to rush to Anderson's aide, the Seattle Times reported.
By 2:29am ambulances and fire vehicles sat a block and a half way waiting for police clearance to enter the CHOP zone and were told to wait for police officials to give them the all clear to enter.
In the 20 minutes it took for first responders to finally reach a dying Anderson, police, EMS and fire responders miscommunicated locations and procedures to provide Anderson medical attention, the suit alleges.
By 2:39 am police moved into the CHOP zone and at 2:45 am Anderson was pronounced dead at a local hospital he was brought to by civilians.
The suit, which is seeking unspecified damages, says that Seattle EMT was less than a minute away as Anderson bled out and Seattle Police were less than five minutes away.
'Essentially Lorenzo (Anderson) was left to die' the claim says.
After the shooting, Seattle Police Department released a statement that said they were met with a violent crowd that prevented officers safe access Anderson.
The police said they had bodycam footage that showing several officers enter the CHOP zone as protestors yelling at them to put their guns down.
By the time officers entered the CHOP zone, Anderson had already be transported to a local hospital by a civilian.
Marcel Long, pictured, is accused of shooting Anderson dead, and remains at large
Anderon's dad Lorenzo Anderson Sr, pictured, filed a separate $3 billion lawsuit against the City of Seattle over his son's alleged wrongful death in August 2020
Autopsy reports revealed that although Anderson suffered four gunshot wounds, to his knee, buttocks, hand and shoulder, and suggested he could have been saved had he been treated earlier.
'The people and institutions we entrust to protect public safety must not be rewarded for their incompetence, indifference and inaction leading to the wrongful death of citizens.'
Attorney Evan Oshan, who is representing Sinclair, said in a statement. 'They need to be held accountable for their contemptible conduct that encouraged lawlessness to reign. Justice will reign and the negligent governmental actions will be held accountable.'
CHOP - previously known as CHAZ (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone) was finally cleared by July 1.
A total of five people were shot during the CHOP protest, with 16 year-old Antonio Mays Jr also killed on June 16. The three other men shot survived their injuries.
Seattle City Attorney's Office said Wednesday that the city intends to fight the lawsuit.
Anderson's father Horace Anderson Sr, 50, filed a separate $3 billion lawsuit against the City of Seattle last August.
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