The editorial was met with scorn throughout much of the city. It resulted in a rare union: residents from the city’s roughest neighborhoods and the police that patrol their streets. They agreed the Times only cared because it was one of their own who got popped.
That afternoon, LAPD called a press conference in front of the Police Administration Building. Uniformed LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Miller, flanked by finely attired Captain Tatreau, police brass, and city officials, stepped to the microphones set up near the entrance to the PAB. A SWAT team was out of sight inside the lobby and, in the nearby parking lot, another thirty or so officers were ready for trouble.
“Everyone ready?” Miller asked the TV news crews. And, of course, as is always the case at any police news conference, one station’s cameraman wasn’t quite ready. He squeezed in between his friends at competing stations, adjusted his camera, gave a thumbs-up. Miller began: “We’re here to give you an update into the investigation of the shooting of Los Angeles Times reporter Michael Lyons, who was seriously wounded downtown early Monday evening as he walked out of the Redwood Saloon on 2nd Street.
“Because of the nature of the case, I have assigned two detectives from South Bureau Homicide to work with Robbery-Homicide to lead the investigation, Detective Sal LaBarbera and Detective Johnny Hart, both of whom have worked the gang units and who both know Mike Lyons. As a personal aside, I have met Lyons on several occasions and have always admired his work. This case has garnered special attention from us not because Lyons is a Times reporter, but because of the when and where of this audacious shooting. We cannot let criminals turn our downtown into a free-fire zone.
“As for the investigation itself, we are pursuing a number of leads, some of which I cannot get into, much to the apparent chagrin of the Times editorial board. Obviously, they have never run an investigation of this type.
“Nevertheless, I can tell you we are in the process of interviewing people and are going over some of Lyons’s stories in search of clues. We do ask the public for their help. There were many cars and people near the intersection of Second and Broadway at five p.m. Monday, and we need to hear from you. Even if you think you have nothing to tell us, we would still like to talk to you. This can be done over the phone and anonymously if need be. I’ll take a few questions now.”
At the news conference, news radio reporter Howitzer Hal Hansen, with his cavernous voice, overpowered the others and got in the first question. “Chief, can you tell the people of Los Angeles, particularly the people who work downtown in the heart of this great city, that they are safe?”
“Yes, I can, Hal. There are, unfortunately, many shootings in this city, but the numbers are down dramatically. I repeat, dramatically, from five, ten, even twenty years ago. Daytime downtown shootings are extremely rare. It just does not happen often. If it did, this would not be major news. So I want to encourage the people—residents, tourists, and workers alike—not to fear downtown Los Angeles. This was a very unusual incident. You do not have to be fearful of walking downtown.
“I need to emphasize that reporter Michael Lyons dealt with street gangs. That was his beat. He was known for doing some dangerous street reporting. We are definitely looking into the distinct possibility that one of his stories upset some bad guys. We’ve been going over his stories and looking for clues. The average citizen of this city does not go out of their way to deal with gangs as he did, and we believe that may have contributed to this shooting.”
A reporter called out, “Are you calling this a gang-related shooting?”
“No, we are not. Not yet. Well, not unless you consider the Los Angeles Times to be a gang.” Some polite scattered laughter rippled through the crowd. Not much. “But seriously, we are looking into the strong possibility that it was gang related.”
Channel 7 was next. “Chief, I know you say things are safe here. Still, this shooting was only two blocks from city hall, just three blocks from police headquarters.”
“Sounds like you read today’s editorial,” said Miller.
“We all did, Chief. We all did. But, doesn’t this send a message to the gangbangers that they can blast away in daylight three blocks from LAPD headquarters and get away with it? Won’t this spark even more bloodshed? Isn’t this a problem?”
“It is a problem for criminals to shoot two blocks from here and it is a problem for them to shoot a hundred and three blocks from here on Grape Street in Watts. The media are focusing on the Lyons shooting and, believe me, I understand the news angle here. But, last night there was a homicide on Fifty-Fourth Street and Ascot. The Times made it a one-inch brief and, as far as I know, none of the TV stations, including yours, even carried it. But, within two hours, two suspects were in custody. I want to let the public know that we are out there doing our job, in Watts, in Boyle Heights, in Pico-Union, in Hollywood, in Venice, in San Pedro, in the Valley, and right here in downtown.”
Howitzer Hal started in again, “Chief, can you say—”
“Hold on, Hal. The message is not that the gangbangers, if this was indeed gang related, can get away with it. They will not get away with it. Whoever did it will be brought to justice. It might take another day, it might take a month, but we will get the shooter. That’s the real message.”
Though several reporters yelled out questions, Miller cut them off. “We ask the public’s help as we do in all cases. This is not the police versus the criminals. This is the police and the public versus the bad guys. The public is a key ally. We need the public in this case and in all cases. The police with the public’s help, the public with the police’s help. That’s the way we all win. Thank you very much.”