Protesters Converge On Alleged Home Of Deputy Who Killed Teen

COVINA, CA — Protesters adopted a dramatic tactic Thursday afternoon, converging on the Covina home believed to be that of of a Los Angeles sheriff's deputy who shot and killed 18-year-old Andres Guardado last month.

Between 75 and 100 protesters, some with bullhorns, lined up along the quiet suburban street shouting "murderer" and demanding the arrest and prosecution of Deputy Miguel Vega. Without confirming who lives in the home, Police officers lined up around the house, standing guard against the protesters. It's the latest turn in a case that has rocked Los Angeles.

Thursday evening's demonstration prompted a response from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department along with other local law enforcement agencies at the home on North Cedar Drive. The assembly was declared unlawful and protesters cleared the scene by 9:30 p.m., according to KCAL9. No arrests were made, Covina police said.

Almost immediately, the June 18 shooting on West Redondo Beach Boulevard generated controversy that has grown in extraordinary ways. County officials have expressed a lack of confidence in the sheriff department's investigation of the shooting, and the county coroner released his findings despite an order by Sheriff Alex Villanueva barring its public release.

The autopsy report confirmed Guardado was fatally shot five times in the back. Guardado was killed around 6 p.m. June 18 near the 400 block of West Redondo Beach Boulevard by Vega, whose partner, Deputy Chris Hernandez, was also at the scene but did not open fire.

Sheriff's officials have said the patrol deputies were at the scene in a marked vehicle when Guardado pulled out a handgun, then began running. Deputies chased him and caught up with him in an alley, where the shooting occurred.

Guardado was pronounced dead at the scene. Sheriff's officials said a weapon was discovered at the scene -- an unregistered .40-caliber semi- automatic pistol with a polymer frame and no serial number, a Smith & Wesson slide and a prohibited 15-round Glock magazine. Officials have said there is no evidence Guardado fired any shots.

His shooting has sparked waves of protests and demands for the firing and prosecution of Vega.

The coroner's report noted that in addition to the five fatal gunshots to the back, Guardado also had two graze wounds on his forearms "along with other secondary fragment wounds." The report labeled the death a homicide, meaning he killed by another person. Cameras seized at the scene did not contain any video recording of the shooting, Marks said.

At attorney for Vega, the deputy who fired the shots, told the Los Angeles Times in a statement on Wednesday that Guardado ignored multiple commands to stop while he was running from the deputies, and that Guardado pulled out a gun during the chase.

Attorney Adam Marangell said Guardado eventually turned around and raised both arms, still holding the weapon. Under orders from Vega, Guardado put the firearm down then got on the ground, face-down, but the gun was still near his right hand, the attorney told The Times.

According to Marangell, Vega holstered his weapon and approached Guaradado to put him in handcuffs, warning him, "Don't reach for the gun." But Guardado reached for the gun near his hand, prompting Vega to open fire, Marangell said.

Tom Yu, an attorney for the second deputy, Hernandez, told The Times his client saw Guardado pull out a weapon while running and eventually saw him start to get on the ground under orders from Vega. When the shots rang out, Hernandez had only a partial view of Guardado, Yu said.

Relatives have said Guardado was working as an informal security guard for an auto body shop in the area, and was doing so when he was approached by the deputies.

Following the release of the independent autopsy, Guardado's parents, Ciristobal and Elisa Guardado, issued a statement saying:

"These findings confirm what we have known all along, which is that Andres was unjustifiably killed by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy. 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. We understand that there is still a long way to go, but we are going to continue to keep fighting for justice for Andres."

The FBI announced on July 17 it would review Guardado's death.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.