FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9. 2020
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Congresswomen Nanette Diaz Barragán and Maxine Waters released the following joint statement about the independent autopsy report on the shooting death of Andres Guardado by a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in June:
Yesterday’s independent autopsy report that found Andres Guardado was shot five-times in the back makes the “security hold” placed on the official autopsy by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that much more disturbing and outrageous.
It is time for the “security hold” on the official autopsy report to be lifted so that the report can be shared with the family. We have called, from the beginning, for an open and transparent investigation into the shooting death of Andres. Thus far, the investigation has been just the opposite.
The Los Angeles Times recently reported that “the two institutions tasked with overseeing investigations of deputies’ use of force — the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission and its investigative arm, the Office of Inspector General — say they are running into roadblocks” in obtaining information and cooperation from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department regarding Andres’s shooting death.
The longer information is withheld from the family and the public, the less confidence there is that the system is working to ensure justice for Andres and other Black and Brown men across Los Angeles.
We will continue to call on Attorney General Xavier Becerra to use the full resources of his office to conduct a full and thorough independent investigation into Andres’ shooting death.
In the interim, we will be asking Attorney General Becerra’s office what role, if any, they have taken in response to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s request to “monitor” the investigation and what exactly that role entails.
Andres’ family and the public demand and deserve transparency and answers. It is time that they get them.
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington.