A grand jury indictment has been unsealed charging former Los Angeles police officer Clifford Proctor in the 2015 shooting death of Brendan Glenn, an unarmed homeless man killed in Venice.
Proctor, 60, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, according to The Los Angeles Times. Glenn, 29, was shot during a late-night altercation outside a bar, where he had reportedly fought with a bouncer before police arrived.
Both Glenn and Proctor were Black — a detail that amplified public outcry at the time and turned Glenn’s death into a rallying point against police shootings across Los Angeles.
A Case Reopened After Years of Controversy
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, now led by Nathan Hochman, said the indictment follows a review of multiple use-of-force cases reopened by former DA George Gascón. Hochman, who defeated Gascón in last year’s election, said his office will determine whether to continue prosecution.
“This office will review the facts and law thoroughly before proceeding,” Hochman’s team said in a statement.
The renewed scrutiny marks a significant shift from 2018, when then–District Attorney Jackie Lacey declined to file charges, citing insufficient evidence that Proctor acted unlawfully when using deadly force.
What Happened the Night Brendan Glenn Died
According to investigators, Glenn was lying face-down on the ground and attempting to push himself up when Proctor fired two fatal shots into his back. Police reports and body camera evidence later confirmed that Glenn was not reaching for a weapon or threatening either officer.
Proctor’s own partner reportedly told investigators he had no idea why Proctor opened fire, deepening the controversy surrounding the case.
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Legal and Political Ramifications
Proctor’s attorney, Anthony “Tony” Garcia, criticized the timing of the indictment, calling it a politically motivated move aimed at showing toughness on police accountability.
“This was already reviewed and declined years ago,” Garcia told The Times, referring to the 2018 decision not to prosecute.
The City of Los Angeles previously paid $4 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Glenn’s family. Proctor resigned from the LAPD in 2017, two years after the shooting.
What’s Next
Proctor remains in Los Angeles County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on November 3.
If convicted, he faces a potential 15 years to life in prison. The case could also test how far Hochman is willing to go in pursuing past officer-involved shootings that were previously dismissed.
Source
Former LAPD officer charged with murder – ABC7
