Lancaster, California | December 4, 2023
Niani Finlayson was 27 years old.
A Black woman.
A mother.
A survivor of domestic violence who did what so many people are told to do when they are in danger.
She called 911 for help.
That call would cost her her life.
A Call for Protection
On December 4, 2023, Niani called emergency services from her Lancaster apartment, reporting that her ex-boyfriend was attacking her and refusing to leave.
She told dispatchers she was afraid.
She needed help.
She needed protection.
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.
When they entered the apartment, Niani was holding an 8-inch kitchen knife.
Body camera footage shows her telling deputies that she was going to stab the man because he had pushed or hurt her 9-year-old daughter.
She was visibly emotional.
She was distressed.
Her focus was on protecting her child.
Within approximately three seconds of entering the apartment, Deputy Ty Shelton fired four rounds.
Niani was shot in front of her daughter.
She was transported to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Her Family’s Fight
Almost immediately, Niani’s family challenged the narrative presented by law enforcement.
Represented by attorney Bradley Gage, they maintain that Niani was a victim of domestic violence who posed no imminent threat to deputies and that meaningful efforts to de-escalate the situation were never made.
They have also alleged that evidence indicates she was shot in the back.
The shooting sparked national outrage and renewed concerns about what can happen when Black women call police during domestic violence emergencies.
The Ongoing Legal Battle
As of 2026, the legal fight continues.
Niani’s family filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit against Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, alleging wrongful death, assault, and violations of her civil rights.
The lawsuit remains pending, and no final verdict or settlement has been reached.
Deputy Ty Shelton was relieved of duty following the shooting.
In July 2024, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that he had been terminated.
It was later revealed that Shelton had previously been involved in other fatal shootings, including the 2020 killing of Michael Thomas.
In those earlier cases, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to file criminal charges.
Today, Niani Finlayson’s death has become a national symbol in conversations about police use of force, racial disparities, and the need for alternative responses to domestic violence and mental health crises.
A young mother called for help.
She did not receive the protection she sought.
Her daughter witnessed the moments that changed her life forever.
Her family continues to fight so that Niani’s name is remembered—not for how she died, but for why she called.
She deserved safety.
She deserved compassion.
She deserved to survive the call she made for help.
Justice, accountability, and truth are still being sought.
© The Vivid Faces of the Vanished
Leave a Reply