12/3/2020 Waters Slams Refusal of LASD Officers Responsible for Andres Guardado’s Death to Testify at Coroner’s Inquest | Congresswoman

ongresswoman Maxine Waters

Waters Slams Refusal of LASD Officers Responsible

for Andres Guardado’s Death to Testify at Coroner’s
Inquest
December 1, 2020 | Press Release
Announces She Will Request U.S. Attorney General Investigate Case as Civil Rights Violation

Waters Slams Refusal of LASD Officers Responsible for Andres Guardado’s Death to Testify at Coroner’s
Inquest

Announces She Will Request U.S. Attorney General Investigate Case as Civil Rights Violation

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chairwoman of the House Committee on
Financial Services, issued the following statement in response to recent reports that four members of the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) refused to testify in the coroner’s inquest into the shooting death of Andres
Guardado:

“It is outrageous that the officers involved in the killing of Andres Guardado are now refusing to testify in the coroner’s
inquest into Guardado’s death. It is this type of obfuscation by the LASD that has fueled decades-long outrage and
resentment among the communities who find themselves victims of police violence time and time again. LASD has a
known history of serious abuses and allegations of misconduct that include racist gangs, the targeting of people of
color, and shootings of civilians.

“On June 18th, Andres Guardado, who was just 18 years old, became a victim of unacceptable police violence after
sustaining five gunshot wounds to his back at the hands of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies. Let me be clear that from
the very beginning of this case, there has been a complete lack of transparency and information from the Sheriff’s
department, which also put a “security hold” on Andres’ autopsy report in an effort to prevent it from being made
public.

“It now appears that in another move designed to prevent any answers from coming to light, Deputies Miguel Vega,
who opened fire, and his partner Chris Hernandez, as well as two homicide detectives investigating the case are all
refusing to testify in the coroner’s inquest by not answering any questions about what led up to the tragic and
unfortunate murder of Andres Guardado. To make matters worse, Miguel Vega, the deputy who killed Andres after
firing five bullets into his back, could not even be bothered to show up for the hearing and was instead out of the
country. This is unacceptable, outrageous, and is nothing short of an affront to justice for Andres, his family, and our
community. It cannot be lost on us that the two officers directly involved in Guardado’s death were identified by a
whistleblower within the LASD as alleged members of the “Executioner’s Gang,” a rogue, violent gang operating within
the department that sets illegal arrest quotas, threatens and harasses fellow officers, and even holds parties after
shootings.

“As was indicated by Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson, one can only conclude that this is a coordinated
effort designed to protect the Sheriff’s office and make it more difficult for the truth to come out about what really
happened on June 18, 2020. Sheriff Villanueva and all those involved in this effort cannot and must not be excused
from this.

https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/waters-slams-refusal-lasd-officers-responsible-andres-guardado-s-death 1/2
12/3/2020 Waters Slams Refusal of LASD Officers Responsible for Andres Guardado’s Death to Testify at Coroner’s Inquest | Congresswoman Maxine Waters

“In an effort to ensure transparency and accountability, I, along with Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán,
requested that Attorney General Xavier Becerra investigate the killing of Andres Guardado. Separately, Sheriff
Villanueva also requested that Attorney General Becerra monitor their investigation. Attorney General Becerra
declined both requests.

“The truth is that for too long our community has suffered at the hands of rogue officers who take it upon themselves to
be the arbiters of life and death and we are determined to get justice for Andres and the many others like him who
have been unjustly taken from us. Andres’ family deserves justice. They deserve answers and they deserve
transparency and accountability. I will not rest until all the facts about what led up to the killing of Andres Guardado are
fully disclosed.

“For all of these reasons, I will be formally requesting that the Attorney General of the United States investigate this as
a civil rights violation. Enough is enough.”

###

Los Angeles Office (/contact/offices/los-angeles-office)

2851 W. 120th Street
Suite H
Hawthorne, CA 90250
Phone: (323) 757-8900
Fax: (323) 757-9506

Washington, DC Office (/contact/offices/washington-dc-office)

2221 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2201
Fax: (202) 225-7854

https://waters.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/waters-slams-refusal-lasd-officers-responsible-andres-guardado-s-death 2/2