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In My Opinion
Shanice Dyer—The Latest Example of George Gascón’s Failed Policies
By Michele Hanisee
(The writer is president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys. It is reprinted from the association’s website.)
The release of Shanice Dyer, once charged with two brutal murders and now accused of yet another killing, is the latest and most painful chapter in Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón’s tenure. A tenure marked by the betrayal of the public trust, the abandonment of victims, and a total disregard for accountability and justice. Gascón’s policies, designed to rectify perceived systemic imbalances, have instead endangered the community by coddling violent offenders like Dyer, who should never have been given the chance to claim yet another life.
In November 2019, Shanice Dyer, then just 17, was charged with the premeditated murders of Jose Flores and Alfredo Carrera. These were not random killings. Dyer, a member of the East Coast Crips, shot these men in cold blood simply because they were in a rival gang’s territory. Flores, a PhD candidate in astrophysics at the University of California, Irvine, had just accepted a job with NASA. He was delivering a baby shower gift to his lifelong friend Carrera when Dyer drove by, opened fire, and left both men dead in the street. Flores’ promising career, his contributions to science, and his potential to inspire future generations were wiped out in an instant. Carrera, whose only crime was living in a neighborhood claimed by gang members, was gunned down before his pregnant fiancée’s eyes. Another innocent bystander, a father shielding his infant daughter from the gunfire, was shot in the back.
The case against Dyer was ironclad. She admitted to pulling the trigger. The murder weapon was linked to her, and it was clear she acted to further the interests of her gang. Under previous District Attorney Jackie Lacey, prosecutors filed a petition to try Dyer as an adult—a logical decision given the heinous nature of the crime and the fact that Dyer was nearly 18 at the time. But as the case moved through the court system, the pandemic delayed proceedings. And then George Gascón was elected district attorney.
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On his first day in office in December 2020, Gascón unleashed a series of special directives that shook the foundations of justice in Los Angeles County. One of those directives prohibited prosecutors from seeking the transfer of juveniles, no matter how violent or egregious their crimes, to adult court. Shanice Dyer’s case was immediately affected. In a meeting with the victims’ families just three days after Gascón took office, prosecutors informed them that the petition to try Dyer as an adult would be withdrawn. Flores’ and Carrera’s families were devastated. The justice they had hoped for, the accountability they deserved, was stripped away without warning or recourse.
The decision to treat Dyer as a juvenile meant that even if convicted of double murder, she could have been released from juvenile detention by age 25. This was not justice. This was an insult to the victims, their families, and the community.
Attorney Kathy Cady, representing the victims’ families, filed writs and appeals to challenge Gascón’s policies, but they were met with resistance every step of the way. Gascón, in his unwavering commitment to his ideology, refused to budge. He claimed he was motivated by the need to rectify racial imbalances in the criminal justice system, but in doing so, he completely ignored the rights and safety of the victims and their families. The people Gascón was sworn to protect.
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Now, Shanice Dyer stands accused of murder once again. In June 2024, just four years after her involvement in the Flores and Carrera murders, Dyer is alleged to have aided and abetted two fellow East Coast Crip gang members in the murder of 21-year-old Joshua Streeter. Streeter was gunned down in a parking lot at the Indian Hill Mall Indoor Swap Meet in Pomona. Dyer, who should have been incarcerated for life, was free—thanks to Gascón’s policies—and now another family is grieving the loss of their loved one. Streeter’s death could have been prevented, but Gascón’s commitment to releasing violent criminals like Dyer back onto the streets has once again resulted in tragedy.
The failure here is not just Gascón’s policies, but his philosophy. The very foundation of justice is built upon accountability and ensuring that those who commit heinous acts are held responsible. Gascón has undermined this core principle repeatedly. By issuing blanket policies that prevent prosecutors from seeking adult trials for juveniles—no matter the crime—Gascón has effectively tied the hands of those who are supposed to ensure justice is served. He has issued directives that violate victims’ constitutional rights, stripped prosecutors of their discretion to evaluate cases based on their merits, and prioritized ideology and theory over the safety and well-being of the community.
The cost of Gascón’s ideology is measured in blood. It is measured in the lost potential of people like Jose Flores, who could have contributed to society in immeasurable ways. It is measured in the grief of families who will never see their loved ones again. And it is measured in the growing sense of fear and frustration felt by communities throughout Los Angeles County, who watch helplessly as violent criminals are released with little to no accountability.
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The case of Shanice Dyer is not an isolated incident. It is part of an exceptionally large pattern of failure that has defined George Gascón’s tenure as District Attorney. Since taking office, Gascón has systematically dismantled the tools prosecutors need to hold criminals accountable. He has repealed California’s sentencing enhancement laws, issued blanket policies that prevent prosecutors from performing their duties under the law, and prioritized the rights of criminals over the rights of victims. In doing so, he has betrayed his oath of office and abandoned the people of Los Angeles.
As Shanice Dyer’s latest case moves through the court system, one can only hope that justice will finally be served. But the damage has already been done. Another life has been lost, another family shattered, and the community left wondering how many more must suffer before real change is made. George Gascón may have been motivated by a desire to “fix the system”, but in his rigid and inflexible approach, he has only made it worse. It is time for the people of Los Angeles to demand accountability—not just from those who commit violent crimes, but from those in power who enable them
Gascón must be held responsible for the harm he has caused, and his policies must be reversed before more innocent lives are lost.
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