Killing of Yoshihiro Hattori
Yoshihiro Hattori (服部 剛丈, Hattori Yoshihiro, November 22, 1975 – October 17, 1992, often referred to as Yoshi Hattori) was a Japanese student on an exchange program to the United States who was shot to death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The shooting happened when Hattori, on his way to a Halloween party, went to the wrong house by mistake. Property owner Rodney Peairs (/piːrz/) fatally shot Hattori, erroneously thinking that he was trespassing with criminal intent. The killing and Peairs' trials received worldwide attention, initiating discussion about race relations and attitudes toward Asians in the United States.
| Killing of Yoshihiro Hattori | |
|---|---|
Hattori in San Francisco | |
| Location | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Date | October 17, 1992 |
Attack type | Child homicide by shooting |
| Participants | Bonnie Peairs (alerted Rodney) |
| Weapon | .44 Magnum revolver |
| Victim | Yoshihiro Hattori (服部 剛丈), aged 16 |
| Assailant | Rodney Peairs |
| Motive | Erroneous belief that Hattori was trespassing with criminal intent; possibly racism |
| Verdict | Not guilty |
| Charges | Manslaughter |
| Litigation | Rodney Peairs found liable in civil trial, ordered to pay US$650,000 ($1,336,192 today) to Hattori's parents in damages |
Peairs was acquitted of manslaughter at a criminal trial, but at a civil trial he was found liable for Hattori's death. The court awarded Hattori's parents US$650,000 ($1,336,192 today) against Peairs in damages.