LA officials call for independent investigation into shooting death of Latino teen

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has called for an independent investigation into the US police shooting death of a Latino teenager by the sheriff’s deputy​​​​​​. 

According to a motion that was passed unanimously during Tuesday’s meeting​​​​​​​, the members demanded “immediate and full access to all evidence requested" by the Inspector General to make sure that “the truth is uncovered and justice is served” for Andres Guardado.

The supervisors also slammed LA County Sheriff’s Department over its long record of ignoring the requests from the county’s Office of the Inspector General.

“This is a disturbing trend that cannot be tolerated and that raises questions into whether the [inspector general’s office] will be able to fulfill its mandated role in overseeing investigations,” Mark Ridley-Thomas, the author of the motion, said in the motion.

Andres Guardado, 18, was shot last week by the sheriff's deputies after he reportedly “produced a handgun” and ran from the front of an auto body shop in Gardena.

Two deputies ran after him and one of them fired six shots at Guardado when they caught him, authorities said. Guardado was pronounced dead at the scene.

No video footage of the incident has emerged and the officials say autopsy results have not yet been disclosed for security reasons.

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Guardado's killing came amid nationwide protests against racism and police brutality following the killing of African-American George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25 by the police.

The killing that was caught on camera reignited debates about the scale of US police violence and discrimination against people of color in the American society.

Last week, nearly after two weeks of protests, US President Donald Trump was forced to issue an executive order aimed at discouraging police from using chokeholds.

But he faced criticism as critics said the order fell far short of the demands of Black Lives Matter activists, seeking fundamental change.

Activists and lawmakers have been wanting an outright ban on chokeholds with no exception and on no-knock warrants, among other things.

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