The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner was called in for questioning “in the interest of public transparency” after questions were raised by deputies about the use of force, and an autopsy confirmed that Gardado had been shot five times in the back. Retired Court of Appeals Justice Candace Cooper will oversee the judicial inquiry into the June 2020 incident.
On the day of the shooting, Guardado was working as an unofficial security guard at the Auto To BD shop, which came amid a week-long demonstration on the death of George Floyd. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies chased Gardado, then he “made a handgun,” looked at deputies and ran to the front door of the store, said LASD Homicide Bureau Captain Kent Wagner.
The Medical Examiner-Coroner will present witnesses and relevant documents to be presented at the inquiry, starting November 30th. Judge Cooper will then make conclusions regarding death, circumstances, cause and manner of death.
The Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner of LA County, Dr. “The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner is committed to bringing transparency and giving Los Angeles County residents an independent assessment of its findings in this case,” said Jonathan Lucas, Chief Medical Examiner of LA County.
During an initial investigation into the fatal shooting, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department requested a security hold on the case, which kept an autopsy report and released the cause of death. In an unusual move, Dr. Luc. Lucas chose to lift the security hold in July and announce the results of the Gardanoopsi.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department did not comment on the inquiries.
LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva told CNN in June that announcing the results of the ops topsy would tarnish the witness’s testimony.
“I want to make sure this doesn’t happen to any other mother. My son wanted to be a doctor. He wanted to take care of me. Who will take care of me now?” Speaking through a translator at the time, Guardado’s mother, Elisa, said in tears.
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