Investigation required after death of Latin American boy shot dead by police in Los Angeles

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Gardena after Guardado's death on June 21, 2020. REUTERS / Bing Guan

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In the United States, the Los Angeles County governing bodies unanimously asked for a "thorough and independent investigation" this Tuesday, June 23, to shed light on the death of a young 18-year-old vigilante. years of Latin American origin, shot last Saturday by six or seven bullets by the police. A rare decision which is explained by the particularly tense context facing law enforcement officers across the Atlantic, accused of police brutality against minorities.

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His name was Andres Guardado and was just 18 years old when he was shot dead on Saturday 18 June on a street in Gardena, a county in Los Angeles county. According to the police officers' version, the young guard was shot when he took out a handgun, in this case an illegal and unregistered hunting weapon, which his family denies, who believes that he was shot. in the back of six or seven bullets.

In the absence of a surveillance camera or video posted by Internet users, it is currently difficult to know which version is the right one. Hence this unanimous decision to launch a thorough and independent investigation.

The family claims the result of the autopsy. But for now, the authorities prefer not to disclose information so as not to fuel the controversy.

Immediate access to all evidence

The Los Angeles sheriff had already asked the California state attorney to supervise the investigations last Monday, saying he wished to act "in  complete transparency  ".

After this decision by the Los Angeles County governing bodies, the sheriff's office will have to cooperate fully and provide "  immediate and full access to all the evidence requested  ". A not-so-trivial cooperation believes an elected official from this county and which is already raising criticism from the local police.

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