Graffiti artist dies after being Tased by police
A 17-year-old graffiti artist’s death, condemned by the Miami art community, has left many shocked, confused and angry.
Israel Hernandez-Llach was Tased by a Miami Beach police officer after he allegedly resisted arrest when he was caught painting on private property.
Chief Raymond Martinez told the Miami Herald that officers spotted Hernandez-Llach painting graffiti on an abandoned McDonald’s restaurant early Tuesday. Martinez said the teen ran but was eventually cornered. He then ran toward the officers and Jorge Mercado, a 13-year veteran of the force, and fired the stun-gun, striking him in the chest.
“The punishment didn’t match the crime #ripreefa,” read a tweet by Seana Marie (@SeanaMariee).
Hernandez-Llach, originally from Colombia, went into medical duress and died at the hospital.
“This is crazy! Killed over art! #IsraelHernandez #ripreefa,” tweeted Tiffany Yvette (@Tiffvette) Wednesday.
The incident is currently under investigation.
“He wanted to change the world somehow through art,” the teen’s 21-year-old sister, Offir Hernandez, told the Miami Herald.
The Arts District in Downtown Las Vegas is no stranger to graffiti art, especially at 1st Street and Hoover Avenue. Fair game to artists from 2012-2013, it is now required that artists get a property owner’s permission before making their mark anywhere on or near that block. Otherwise, they’re entering at their own risk and could face serious charges.
The key is permission — legally, it’s what makes a piece art instead of vandalism.
In Nevada, graffiti laws got tougher in the state’s recent 77th Legislative Session.
Effective Oct. 1, anyone who commits an act of graffiti — regardless of damage cost — on any location that is a registered historic landmark, more than 50 years old or listed as historic by any certified government, will be committing a Class D felony crime.
If convicted of defacing property, a first time offender with no prior offenses can face a minimum fine of $400 and a mandatory sentence of 100 hours of community service removing graffiti from the community.
Contact reporter Yvette Cruz at ycruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0256. Follow @YvyReports on Twitter.
