On Thursday, June 18, Andres Guardado was reportedly shot and killed by LA Sheriff deputies in Gardena. The 18-year-old Salvadoran man was shot in the back six times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. On Saturday, Congresswomen Nanette Diaz Barragán and Maxine Waters released a joint statement urging for justice.
“Another day, and another Black or Brown kid has been shot in the back by police,” they wrote. “These killings must stop. We demand it. The American people demand it.”
There have been nearly 900 reported killings at the hands of police in LA County since 2000. Nearly 80% were Black and/or Latino.
“Andres Guardado is the latest young man of color killed by police gunfire,” the congresswomen continued. “The officers involved did not wear body cameras. We demand answers and call for an independent investigation into this tragic death.” They called out California Attorney General Xavier Becerra directly and asked him to conduct a full, transparent investigation.
“Far too often, young Brown and Black men are caught up in a ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ scenario with police officers,” they continued. “Change must come now.
Read the full story here.