California man, 18, killed by deputies was shot 5 times in back, independent autopsy shows

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Attorneys representing the family of a Southern California man who was fatally shot by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy last month said Wednesday that an independent autopsy found he was shot five times in the back.

Andres Guardado, 18, a security guard at an autobody shop, died after he was shot on June 18 in Gardena, setting off a wave of protests amid tense relations between police departments and minority communities nationwide.

The attorneys said the autopsy revealed Guardado suffered a graze abrasion to his left forearm with a forward trajectory and did not have alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of his death. They said it proves the shooting was "without a doubt, the result of unjustified police violence against an innocent young man."

A lawyer for the family of Andres Guardado, who was killed by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy, said Wednesday that an independent autopsy revealed the 18-year-old was shot five times in the back. (PSB Law)

"These findings confirm what we have known all along, which is that Andres was unjustifiably killed by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy," Guardado's parents, Cristobal and Elisa, said in a statement. "Andres was a good boy, he was our son and he had so much life ahead of him. Our son did not deserve to die this way."

The autopsy, which was completed June 26, was requested by the family after the sheriff's investigators requested a "security hold" on the results of the official report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.

"The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department claims to be guided by principal values of Integrity, Accountability, Service and Ethics, but the Guardado family has seen NOTHING from this Department except a complete lack of transparency and accountability following the unjustified shooting of their son," family attorney Adam Shea said. "Justice delayed is justice denied." 

During an impromptu news conference in response to the independent autopsy report, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said not releasing some facts is meant to keep investigations from being "tainted in any way, shape or form."

"We do understand the desire of the Guardado family to have answers sooner rather than later," said Chris Marks, commander of the department's detectives division. "We do not want to take any action which includes prematurely releasing information or reports that may compromise an investigation."

Jennifer Guardado, center left, sister of Andres Guardado, cries as she speaks, while her cousin Steve Abarca holds her during a protest in honor of Andres Guardado last month in Gardena, Calif. Patrolling deputies said they saw Guardado talking to someone in a car that was blocking a driveway and that Guardado had a gun when he saw deputies and began to run, leading to a chase and the shooting. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

The department said two deputies on patrol saw Guardado talking to someone in a car the night he died when he allegedly produced a handgun and started running. After a short foot chase into an alley, Guardado was shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

Video cameras in the area did not capture the events leading up to Guardado's death, Marks said. He said a gun was recovered at the scene that appeared to be pieced together with different components.

Six rounds were collected but no evidence exists that shows Guardado shot at the deputies, Marks added. Investigators are trying to find individuals believed to have been at the scene or witnessed parts of the fatal encounter, he said.

Attorneys for the two deputies -- identified by local media outlets as Miguel Vega, who opened fire, and Chris Hernandez, who did not shoot -- told the Los Angeles Times the shooting was justified.

Hernandez has been interviewed by investigators while Vega is scheduled to talk with authorities, Marks told reporters. Both are still employed with the department.

Guardado's family and local activists have expressed doubt about the official narrative of events leading up to his death. The department has still not explained why Vega fired his weapon.

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Last month, Villanueva said he reached out to the state attorney general to monitor the investigation out of an "abundance of caution."

Guardado's family said he was working as a security guard at the auto repair shop because the owner wanted to deter graffiti vandals. Marks said the location had been the subject of complaints and that someone was shot in the area a week prior to Guardado's death.