Finlayson had called 911 for help, and within a few seconds of Deputy Ty Shelton entering her home, he shot her four times.
The incident occurred in Lancaster, a city in northern Los Angeles County, and has sparked national outrage.
Civil rights activists are asking why the deputies didn't try to calm things down, but instead used deadly force against a woman who was a victim of abuse and had asked them for help.
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department shared body-camera video of the deadly shooting to show transparency.
The LASD also released audio from the 911 call, where Finlayson is heard pleading for help, saying, “He won’t get out of my house … He will not leave me alone … I need the police here right now.”
She repeatedly screamed and told a man to get off her.
According to her family's lawyer, the man was her ex-boyfriend.
Body-camera footage shows that upon arriving outside the apartment, deputies could hear a woman screaming inside.
When Finlayson opened the door, her nine-year-old daughter was standing next to her, apparently showing that the man had hurt her.
Finlayson appeared to be holding a kitchen knife and mentioned that her ex-boyfriend had attacked them, saying, “I’m about to stab him because he had hurt her daughter".
A female deputy entered the home first, and Finlayson and her ex moved to the opposite end of the room.
Shelton entered shortly after and fired four shots at Finlayson almost immediately.
Her daughter was nearby during the shooting and ran into the kitchen as her mother collapsed.
The ex-boyfriend allegedly screamed, “No, no, why did you shoot?”
The LASD did not release footage of the aftermath.
Shelton had entered with a Taser in one hand and a firearm in the other but did not use any less-lethal weapons or tactics to de-escalate before shooting Finlayson.
The LASD stated that Finlayson was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Her ex-boyfriend, whose name was not disclosed, was arrested for child abuse and assault on a police officer but was later released pending further investigation.
This incident was not Shelton’s first fatal shooting.
On June 11, 2020, he killed Michael Thomas, 61, during another domestic violence call.
Thomas’s girlfriend said they were having a verbal argument, and Thomas tried to stop the officers from entering his home.
Thomas, unarmed, was shot in the chest by Shelton, who was not prosecuted for the shooting.
Finlayson’s nine-year-old daughter, Xaisha, who witnessed the shooting, expressed her grief, saying, “She was my best friend. She was always there for me. It’s very unbelievable that she’s gone and not coming back. I miss my mom.”
Xaisha also claimed that the police lied about her mother threatening them.
Tracie Hall, Finlayson’s mother, stated that her daughter was working to become a nurse and an in-home care service worker.
She called for Shelton’s dismissal and prosecution, saying, “He should not be allowed to roam free and continue to have a job.”
The LASD announced that Shelton had been removed from the field pending an investigation, in line with standard policy.
The LASD emphasized that each deputy-involved shooting is complex and will be thoroughly examined to improve public safety.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that the department aims to gain additional insights from the incident to enhance public safety.
Claim Against LASD
Finlayson’s relatives have filed a $30 million claim against Los Angeles County and the Sheriff’s Department, claiming wrongful death and civil rights violations.
Attorney Brad Gage, representing Finlayson’s family, filed the claim against Los Angeles County and the Sheriff’s Department.
This claim is a step before filing a lawsuit.
During a press conference, Gage said, "Niani had been given a knife to try to protect herself from this man who was accused of attacking her."
The claim, reviewed by PEOPLE, alleges that Finlayson called 911 because the man was strangling her and had hurt her 9-year-old daughter.
It also claims that after the shooting, the man told deputies there was no reason to shoot Niani, and that deputies allegedly beat him up afterward.
Gage emphasized that deputies are not allowed to kill women needlessly or engage in vigilante justice, stating, “No one is above the law.”
The claim further states that this was not Deputy Shelton’s first fatal shooting, yet he remains on the force without known punishment.
According to the lawsuit, Finlayson was sitting on the ground, not threatening anyone, when deputies fired at her through a glass door, shooting her in the back four times.
Finlayson did not die immediately; she called for help and cried out in pain while her 9-year-old daughter witnessed the entire ordeal.
In a statement emailed to PEOPLE, the LASD said they had not officially received the lawsuit but take all deputy-involved shootings seriously.
They assured that a thorough review process would be conducted, including legal analysis by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office to determine if the shooting was legally justified.
The department reiterated its commitment to protecting diverse communities without bias and prejudice.
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