City Leaders Urge Patience As South Pasadena Police Shooting Investigation Continues

PHOTO/Courtesy of the Internet Movie Database.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

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SOUTH PASADENA - Two independent investigations into the shooting of a woman August 30 are being conducted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Department.

John Pope, South Pasadena public information officer, issued a statement Saturday, urging patience as the two independent reviews are underway.

“City leaders said they welcome the two separate, independent investigations ... and caution against preliminary judgements about the incident,” Pope said.

Strangely though, while advising against preliminary judgements about the shooting, city leaders said “We believe our officers acted appropriately under a tragic set of circumstances,” according to South Pasadena City Manager Stephanie DeWolfe.

The incident began around 11:48 am.. Thursday after the landlord of a property in the 1100 block of Fremont Avenue called officers to check the welfare of a woman there who was reportedly experiencing seizures, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
 
Police arrived and summoned South Pasadena Firefighters to tend to 49-year-old Vanessa Marquez’s medical needs. Seeing that Marquez needed mental health services, a Los Angeles County Mental Health Clinician worked with police for more than 90 minutes to convince Marquez to seek help.
 
Marquez allegedly became uncooperative and armed herself with what appeared to be a handgun, Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.
 
Two officers opened fire on Marquez, striking her at least once in the torso. Marquez was taken to an area hospital and declared dead.

The gun was later determined to be a replica firearm pellet gun.
 
Marquez was identified as a former actress, having appeared on “ER” from 1994 to 1997 as the character Wendy Goldman. She also starred in the 1988 movie “Stand and Deliver” as Ana Delgado, amongst many other roles.
 
Marquez spoke on social media about her health problems, which included seizures and celiac disease, stating she was terminally ill.

“We look forward to hearing the results of the investigation,” DeWolfe said. “In the meantime we are asking the public to be patient and wait until the facts of the case are confirmed before making judgements about the incident.