Latasha Harlins: The 15-Year-Old Murdered Over Orange Juice
And why Soon Ja Du, the murderer served no time for the murder
On March 16, 1991, Latasha Harlins who was fifteen at the time entered her local convenience store, the Empire Liquor Market in Vermont Vista, Los Angeles. Unbeknown to her that was where she would take her last breaths as a victim of a senseless act of violence.
Why was Latasha Harlins murdered?
When Latasha entered the Empire Liquor Market she made her way to the refrigerator section and got herself a bottle of $1.79 orange juice. She placed the juice in her bag and took out her money and walked towards the cashier with her cash in hand. The cashier, Soon Ja Du didn’t see the money Latasha had in her hand and immediately accused the 15-year-old of theft.
There are conflicting accounts of what exactly was said when Soon accused Latasha of theft. However, a videotape recording from the store cameras shows that a scuffle ensued.
In the videotape Soon can be seen grabbing Latasha’s hair, banging her head on the counter, and grabs the juice from the bag. In response to the attack, Latasha punches Soon twice, manages to escape her grip, and begins to walk away. As she walks away, Soon grabs her gun and shoots Latasha in…
