Willie Davis Frazier pled not guilty during his arraignment
Wednesday to two counts of assault and one count of removing an
officer’s weapon in an Oct. 5 incident during which he was
shot by a university police officer in Kerckhoff Hall.
Police said Frazier, a 51-year-old transient, was trespassing in
the Kerckhoff Hall study lounge when he was confronted by UCPD
Officer Terrence Duren. After a physical altercation, Duren,
reportedly fighting for his life, fired two shots at Frazier,
hitting him once in the torso.
From inside the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown
Los Angeles on Monday ““ where Frazier is currently
incarcerated ““ Frazier said he didn’t do anything to
warrant confrontation.
Frazier said he had been sitting in the Kerckhoff study lounge,
writing a letter for over an hour when, as he was leaving, he was
approached by Duren.
Frazier said Duren asked if he was a student and that he
responded “I’m leaving” to the officer.
But while Frazier’s account differs, police investigating
the incident say he was the aggressor.
“At this point in time of the investigation, we’re
concluding, so far, that Mr. Frazier precipitated the
encounter,” said LAPD Detective Vic Pietrantoni, one of the
investigators of the incident.
“Any time you have a case like this, the first thing that
jumps into mind is what motivates someone to (attack an
officer),” Pietrantoni said.
“There has to be something there, and that’s what
we’re trying to ferret out,” he said.
The initial confrontation happened in the study lounge, but both
police and Frazier said the shooting occurred in a nearby
bathroom.
Pietrantoni declined to comment further on specific events,
citing the ongoing investigation of the incident.
From inside the correctional facility Monday, Frazier said he
never attempted to use weapons against the officer during the
altercation.
During Wednesday’s arraignment, Frazier’s assigned
public defender entered a “not guilty” plea to charges
stemming from assertions that Frazier was shot only after he tried
to take the officer’s gun.
According to LAPD and UCPD policy, officers are only supposed to
use their firearms if their life or someone else’s life is in
danger.
In court Tuesday, Frazier’s preliminary hearing was set
for Oct. 29.
At the hearing, the court will determine whether there is enough
evidence to continue with the trial.
With reports from Robert Salonga, Bruin Senior
Staff.