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Family Of Gardena Man Shot By LA Sheriff's Deputy Demand Independent Investigation
L.A. County Sheriff's deputies shot and killed a young man identified by family members as 18-year-old Andres Guardado on Thursday, June 18, 2020. The family says Guardado worked as a security guard. (Screenshot courtesy of NBCLA)
The family of an 18-year-old student fatally shot by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy is challenging the department's version of the events that led to his shooting and is demanding an independent investigation into his death.
Andres Guardado was working as a security guard for a Gardena auto body shop when deputies drove up Thursday night. The Sheriff's Department says he produced a handgun in view of deputies and ran away.
The Sheriff's Department held a press conference late Saturday afternon, with Sheriff Alex Villanueva offering his condolences to the Guardado family and saying a thorough investigation is underway.
Captain Kent Wegener said a modified .40 caliber gun was recovered at the scene with 13 live rounds, but that he doesn't believe the gun was fired during the incident. When asked if Guardado pointed the gun at deputies, Wegener said that "remains to be seen" because they don't have video of the actual shooting. He was not asked about the deputies' account of the incident.
MORE ABOUT THE SHOOTING:
Sheriff's Department Says Shooting Victim Possessed An Illegal Gun
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