A Los Angeles man was acquitted of murder Tuesday in the 2018 death of a Trader Joe's manager who was killed by police gunfire during a hostage standoff. Gene Evin Atkins, 36, faced more than 50 counts including assault, attempted murder, and false imprisonment for a crime spree that began with him shooting his grandmother and ended in a three-hour hostage situation at a Silver Lake Trader Joe's.
Jurors convicted Atkins on dozens of lesser charges but acquitted him of first-degree murder and deadlocked on a second-degree murder charge related to the death of Melyda "Mely" Corado, 27. The manager was struck by a bullet fired by a Los Angeles Police Department officer as officers exchanged gunfire with Atkins, who had fled into the store after crashing his grandmother's car outside.
Atkins was charged with murder under a "provocative act" theory, meaning prosecutors argued he created the circumstances that led to Corado's death. The jury deliberated for nearly five days before reaching the verdict.
An internal LAPD investigation later found the officers acted within policy, and they were cleared of criminal wrongdoing. The department has never identified which officer fired the fatal shot.
Corado's family filed a lawsuit against the city and the officers, which was settled in 2024 for $9 million. Her name has become a rallying cry for local movements against police brutality.
Atkins was wounded in the arm during the shootout but surrendered after holding shoppers and employees hostage for three hours.