An 18-year-old Latino man who was killed in a confrontation with Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies last month was fatally shot five times in the back, according to an autopsy released Friday in a killing the man’s family contends was unjustified.
The confrontation occurred on June 18 when a police unit on patrol in Gardena, Calif., approached the man, Andres Guardado, and the woman he was standing with on a sidewalk, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s report.
According to the report, Mr. Guardado ran, and sheriff deputies caught up with him and told him to get down and not to reach for the weapon that was around his waistband. When he did, the report said, deputies shot at him.
One deputy’s weapon, a 9-millimeter handgun, was collected as evidence, along with another weapon, a Smith & Wesson handgun, which was found lying a few feet from Mr. Guardado’s body.
The autopsy, conducted on June 22, said that in addition to the five gunshot wounds, Mr. Guardado also had wounds on each of his forearms and abrasions on his forehead. The coroner detected no drugs or alcohol in his system, the report said.
While Mr. Guardado’s death remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, his family contends that the killing was unjustified. The encounter happened at a time when thousands of people in cities across the United States were marching against police brutality and racism following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police.
Mr. Guardado, whose family is from El Salvador, was killed near an auto body shop that he was providing security for that day, said his uncle, Noe Abarca. His uncle said he was dedicated to working and learning his trade.
In a statement issued the day after the shooting, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that Mr. Guardado was not recognized as a licensed security officer by the state and that he was not wearing identifiable clothing or a uniform indicating he was working as a security guard.
The statement said a loaded firearm that had a “prohibited magazine” was found at the scene. California state law prohibits most civilians from owning magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
Adam Shea, a lawyer for Mr. Guardado’s family, said in a statement that the autopsy report was consistent with findings from one that the family had commissioned.
“The findings of both autopsies are indisputable, and establish that Andres’ death was, without a doubt, the result of unjustified police violence against an innocent young man,” the statement said. “From the start, this investigation has been conducted in secrecy, with guarded intent to delay disclosure to the public and bury the truth about what happened in the moments before Andres’ life was taken.”
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a statement on Friday that the Department would not comment on the case until the investigation has been completed. He said the release of the autopsy had the potential to jeopardize the investigation and any future criminal or administrative proceedings.
“This move will now force the Sheriff’s Department to use court orders to enforce security holds that exist for only one purpose — to prevent tainting witness testimony prior to interviews,” the statement said.
Dr. Jonathan Lucas, the Los Angeles County medical examiner, said Friday that he had decided to release the autopsy report after some deliberation.
“In doing so, I have given careful consideration to the major variables in this case — supporting the administration of justice, as well as the public’s right to know,” he said in a statement. “I do not believe that these are mutually exclusive ideals.”
Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio and John Ismay contributed reporting.
"back" - Google News
July 11, 2020 at 04:36AM
https://ift.tt/3gNfza9
Officers Shot Latino Man Five Times in the Back, Autopsy Says - The New York Times
"back" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QNOfxc
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Officers Shot Latino Man Five Times in the Back, Autopsy Says - The New York Times"
Post a Comment