Los Angeles is once again at the center of a heated national debate over police accountability, as a grand jury indictment unsealed on October 24, 2025, charged former LAPD officer Clifford Proctor, 60, with second-degree murder in the 2015 shooting of unarmed homeless man Brendon Glenn. The case, which has simmered for a decade, has become a lightning rod for discussions about law enforcement, justice, and the treatment of vulnerable populations.
The events that led to Proctor’s indictment began on a quiet evening in May 2015 in Venice, a Los Angeles neighborhood famous for its boardwalk and eclectic street life, but also for its visible homelessness crisis. That night, 29-year-old Brendon Glenn and his dog were asked to leave the Bank of Venice bar following a dispute. Shortly after, officer Clifford Proctor and his partner encountered Glenn outside a nearby establishment. What began as a heated exchange escalated into a struggle, during which Proctor shot Glenn twice in the back while Glenn was on the ground. Glenn was unarmed and, according to multiple investigations, appeared to be attempting to de-escalate the situation.
Proctor would later claim that Glenn reached for his partner’s holster during the scuffle. However, this assertion was contradicted by Proctor’s partner, who told investigators he did not know why Proctor had fired his weapon. The Los Angeles Police Commission, in a 2016 letter, confirmed that “at no time during the struggle can Glenn’s hand be observed on or near any portion” of the holster. Video footage from a bystander also failed to support Proctor’s account, raising serious questions about the justification for the use of deadly force.
The aftermath was immediate and intense. Glenn’s death sparked protests throughout Los Angeles, with activists decrying police brutality and erecting memorials in his honor. The shooting reverberated amid a growing national conversation about racial injustice and the use of deadly force by law enforcement. Glenn, who was Black, became an emblem for the anti-police brutality movement. The city of Los Angeles, facing wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits from Glenn’s family, agreed to a $4 million settlement in 2016.
Initially, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, under then-District Attorney Jackie Lacey, declined to prosecute Proctor. An 83-page report issued in March 2018 concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the officer acted unlawfully. The police chief at the time, Charlie Beck, had recommended that Proctor be charged with manslaughter, but Lacey’s office demurred, a decision that fueled further outrage and calls for reform.
The tide began to turn in 2020, when George Gascón was elected district attorney on a platform of police accountability. Gascón hired a special prosecutor to re-examine cases involving on-duty police killings, including Proctor’s. Although Gascón was ousted in November 2024, his tenure set in motion the process that would eventually lead to the indictment. Proctor, who had resigned from the LAPD in 2017 and had been living abroad, was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at Los Angeles International Airport on October 16, 2025, on a felony murder warrant. He remains in custody without bail.
On the day the indictment was unsealed, Proctor pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, causing great bodily injury, and use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, he faces 15 years to life in prison. The current district attorney, Nathan J. Hochman, has announced that his office will review the case and decide whether to continue prosecuting Proctor. In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Department said, “We will continue to support the justice system as this case proceeds and will work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners throughout the process.”
The legal proceedings ahead promise to be closely watched. A preliminary hearing is expected in November 2025, with a trial anticipated in 2026. Glenn’s family, who have endured a decade of public scrutiny and legal battles, see the indictment as a step toward justice. Their attorney, V. James DeSimone, provided a statement from Glenn’s mother, Sheri Camprone: “It’s about time.” DeSimone added, “This really has been a political football for the past decade,” urging the district attorney’s office to pursue the charges vigorously.
Community reaction has been divided along familiar lines. Homeless advocacy groups and civil rights activists have welcomed the indictment as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the humanity of people experiencing homelessness. Community organizer Maya Hernandez remarked, “This indictment signals that no one is above the law—not even police officers. It gives hope to millions at the margins who have long awaited justice.” On the other hand, some police unions and law enforcement supporters have voiced concerns that high-profile prosecutions could damage officer morale and make it more difficult for police to do their jobs effectively. Proctor’s attorney, Anthony Garcia, told The Los Angeles Times that the 10-year delay in charging his client raises questions about the fairness of the process.
Proctor’s case is emblematic of a broader crisis in policing. Data from recent studies show that people experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience police violence during encounters than housed individuals. Officer-involved shootings targeting homeless people have risen by 15% over the last decade, with preliminary reports indicating 165 such incidents in 2025 alone. Advocacy organizations report that a majority of homeless respondents have experienced harassment, excessive use of force, or unlawful detentions. These statistics underscore the urgent need for reforms, including de-escalation training and alternative intervention models involving mental health professionals and social workers.
In response to public pressure, the LAPD has expanded non-police response units to handle incidents involving mental health crises and homelessness. However, critics argue that union protections, legal immunities, and slow disciplinary processes still hamper meaningful change. The debate over how best to balance officer safety, public accountability, and the rights of vulnerable populations continues to roil Los Angeles and the nation at large.
For the Glenn family and many others, the indictment is both a milestone and a reminder of the long road ahead. As the legal process unfolds, the city and its residents are left to grapple with the legacy of a tragedy that has shaped the conversation around policing, justice, and the value of every human life.
