With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Sheriff: One Deputy In The Dijon Kizzee Shooting Is Yet To Be Interviewed
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said today that one of the two deputies who fatally shot Dijon Kizzee in South L.A. has so far declined to be interviewed by detectives.
A week and a half after the controversial Aug. 31 shooting , the sheriff said investigators have to wait until a deputy is ready to be interviewed.
"If we force the deputies to be interviewed, it becomes a compelled statement," Villanueva told a news conference outside the department's South L.A. station. "And then we cannot use a compelled statement."
Such statements could not be used in any criminal case against a deputy — just like they couldn’t be used against a civilian accused of a crime.
Sponsored message
The sheriff said the deputy — a training deputy, according to a source — is expected to talk to detectives in the next few days.
But the delay is a problem, according to former Sheriff’s Commander Rod Kusch, who once oversaw such investigations. As time passes, deputies’ memories can fade or their stories can change, he said.
"This is why police officers interview victims of crime and witnesses of crime right away," Kusch told us.
Villanueva said once detectives have interviewed the deputy, the department will release all the information it has on the case, including "video, with the entire context of what happened, and it will answer all of the questions you may have."
Key questions center around the department's claim that Kizzee had a gun, and that the deputies opened fire when he "made a motion" toward the weapon after dropping it on the ground during a tussle with one of the deputies. The department says the incident began when the deputies tried to stop Kizzee for a still undisclosed vehicle code violation while he was riding a bicycle.
LEARN MORE ABOUT POLICE IN LA
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters . To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
