Homicide Report > Jason Bitz, 23
Jason Bitz, 23
Died Oct. 31, 2011
Jason Bitz, a 23-year-old white man, was fatally shot by an off-duty officer Monday, Oct. 31, near Del Amo Boulevard and Studebaker Road in Lakewood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Sheriff's officials said the off-duty officer said he heard noises outside his home on Longworth Avenue, went outside and found two people trying to break into a vehicle parked across the street.
According to the account of the officer, whose name was not disclosed, when the officer confronted the men, they ran and he pursued them in his personal car.
During the pursuit, the officer got out of his car and Bitz got into the vehicle's driver's seat. The officer told sheriff's officials that Bitz reached into his waistband and the officer fired his gun four times.
A family friend says Bitz was helping to change a tire, not trying to steal a vehicle. Bitz had been given $12 to help change the tire on a van and was doing so about 6 a.m. when the off-duty officer came out of his home, said Rita Gomez, a drug and alcohol counselor and friend of the Bitz family. He was given the keys to the vehicle by the owner's son, she said.
Bitz, she said, "was not a saint. He was on parole. That's probably why he ran."
But, she added, "This kid was not breaking into anything ... he wasn't stealing anything. And he shot him."
Sheriff's officials are looking into whether Bitz had permission to use the car, and the coroner's office has confirmed that he was unarmed when he was shot, said sheriff's Lt. Eddie Hernandez. Authorities are still looking for the second man.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters who'd like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800) 222-8477.
— Paloma Esquivel
- Neighborhood: Lakewood
- Age: 23
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Monday
- Agency: LASD Homicide
- Race/Ethnicity: White
- Circumstance: Officer-involved
- Crime scene: Public place
10 reader comments about Jason Bitz
I am not here to share a memory, but I would like to make sure that people don't forget this story.
It is utterly shocking that more people are not up in arms about this case, which is thuggery and murder on the part of someone supposedly sworn to protect the public.
I'm tired of having to say about the victims of police violence that never gets properly aired, "shot then forgot."
Dec. 10, 2011 at 2:40 a.m.
The police officer is a complete and total discrace to the law enforcement community and still to this day walks around with a badge and gun. Sadly enough someone elses son or daughter could possibly die as a result .
Dec. 19, 2011 at 10:16 p.m.
mike toth, in his mind he thinks he did the right thimg. Supporters of cops like Syscom3, Meck, John, Judy and others give him comfort for taking someone else's life.
Dec. 21, 2011 at 8:14 a.m.
Common sense would tell everyone in law enforcement that this guy never reached in his waistband...If one is driving a car away why would he have to reach in his waist band...If he wanted to shoot at the off duty officer he would have done so before running away...Just because you believe someone is breaking the law DOES NOT give you the right to take the life....THe sad part is that the department will settle out of court and everyone will forget about this...HOwever if I was a family member of this Bitz I would go to the media, down to city hall, call the police commission until something is done about this officer....Rogue cops and part vigilantes should not be the ones serving our communities...R.I.P to Jason Bitz...BTW it should only take one phone call to figure out if Bitz had premission to drive this vehicle... Can we get an update on this case?,,,
Dec. 21, 2011 at 12:08 p.m.
Jag, actually I think the officer has a lot of explaining to do.
Dec. 21, 2011 at 12:48 p.m.
— Jag
The guy was on parole and ran as soon as he was confronted. The he takes off in the officer's car. Come on, this guy was asking for it.
Dec. 22, 2011 at 7:32 a.m.
Meck, do you believe the off duty cop knew he was on parole? I believe the cop was looking for an excuse to pull the trigger.
Dec. 23, 2011 at 9:23 a.m.
A guy changes a tire and the officer gets suspicious...THe guy runs after he is confronted and the officer gives chase in his vehicle...I asked my brother(WHO IS A DETECTIVE) if this is protocol and his answer was NO....THe officer should have called it in if he eas not in immediate danger...The vehicle was still disabled so they could have run the license(THINK ABOUT THIS..NO FOOL THAT STOLE A CAR WOULD STOP TO FIX A TIRE....THEY WOULD JUST LEAVE THE VEHICLE IF ITS STOLEN)...then I began thinking about the officer story...If a person jumped in your car to steal it would he reach in his waist band to fire a shot at you?...he already has the car so what sense does that make?...also why is it taking so long for the officers to find out if the vehicle was stolen or not...all it takes is a phone call RIGHT?....registered owner could have cleared that part up quickly...THis cop is a rogue cop looking for trouble...probably got bullyed as a kid and now he feels like a man with a gun in his hand...he should not be allowed to patrol the streets with that type of eagerness...I understand that cops want to go home at the end of the day but when you look for trouble when it isnt there you are a hyper vigilant person and thats scary....
Dec. 23, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
I totally Igree wit fool wat was going trough that cops head first of all he was off duty if u think someone is trying to take a car call it in!!! Hello is not rocket science I really hope justice is done forthis young man parolee or not in my opinion this guy did not know he was a police officer and probably tried to fight him off and payed the ultimate consequence this case should get media attention L.A TIMES please pick it up and give us an update
Dec. 26, 2011 at 8:15 p.m.
— Jag
Maybe the cop didn't know he was on parole. But why run and take off in the cop's car? Makes him look totally guilty of something.
Dec. 28, 2011 at 2:36 p.m.
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