L.A. security guard shot 5 times in back by sheriff's deputy, independent autopsy finds
07/08/2020 8:21 am PDT
via KTLA:
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Andres Guardado, 18, was shot in the back five times by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy last month, according to an attorney for Guardado's family citing an independent autopsy.
VIDEO: L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. Guardado press conference - Facebook
Attorney Adam Shea said Wednesday an autopsy was performed by an independent forensic pathologist after the Sheriff's Department placed a security hold on the report prepared by the county's medical examiner-coroner office.
The Los Angeles Times reports that according to the Sheriff's Department, the events began when the two deputies saw Guardado, who family members said worked as a security guard, speaking with someone in a car that was blocking the entrance to a body shop about 6 p.m. June 18.
Authorities said Guardado “produced a handgun” and ran away, and the deputies chased him. When the deputies caught up, one deputy fired his weapon, officials said.
The L.A. Times cites sources with knowledge of the case who identified the deputies to the Times as deputies Miguel Vega, who opened fire, and Chris Hernandez, who did not shoot. Authorities have yet to explain what prompted Vega, 30, to fire his weapon at Guardado.
Vega has reportedly been previously accused of making false statements in an investigation, and was disciplined with a four-day suspension in that investigation, the Times reports.
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