Andres Guardado was killed by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy in Gardena, CA on June 18. Today, July 8, a report on a family-requested, independent autopsy reveals the exact cause of death.
Namely, it shows that Michael Vega, the deputy who opened fire, shot to kill. Guardado was reportedly shot five times in the back. His left forearm was also grazed, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The other initial autopsy report, which the Los Angeles County coroner’s office has had since last month, was reportedly placed on an LASD-requested “security hold” that could last “months to years,” according to CNN.
Guardado’s family, and a largely outraged public, was not going to let that slide and, as is usually the case, had to take matters into their own hands.
From Gardena to Compton, protests ensued and the city of Compton, where the sheriff’s station is, released a statement saying saying “The only acceptable reaction to the murder of Andres Guardado is immediate action by all responsible parties. People are hurting and they are tired of excuses.”
Many others have chimed in demanding more answers. “Andres’ family deserves answers,” politician Julián Castro wrote. “They deserve the official autopsy, camera footage and an explanation.”