The families of Anthony Weber and Andres Guardado, two young males who were killed by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, gathered on Monday, April 17 at the Hall of Justice to condemn District Attorney George Gascón’s decision not to file charges against the deputies who fatally shot Guardado and Weber.
An internal memo from the District Attorney’s office released on on April 14 found that Gascón declined to file charges against former deputies Miguel Vega, who fatally shot 18-year-old Guardado in 2020 near Gardena, and Gregory Van Hoesen, who fatally shot 16-year-old Weber in Westmont in 2018.
MORE INFORMATION: DA won’t file charges against sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Andres Guardado near Gardena
Vega, and former deputy Chris Hernandez, who was also involved in the death of Guardado, have been indicted in U.S. District Court on charges of violating the civil rights of a 23-year-old skateboarder in Compton two months before Guardado was shot.
The families were joined Monday by members of the activist group Coalition for Community Control Over the Police, which advocates for families affected by police shootings.
RELATED COVERAGE: Ex-L.A. County sheriff’s deputies in Andres Guardado shooting face federal charges in separate case
“This is what the Sheriff’s Department of Los Angeles is reduced to,” said organizer Cliff Smith. “A criminal organization that operates with impunity on the streets of Los Angeles County with no accountability.”
In attendance were Andres’ father Cristobal Guardado, as well as members of Weber’s family. Cristobal spoke in Spanish, and was translated by organizer Alejandro Villalpando.
“I don’t need to translate the pain for anyone here,” said Villalpando. “Cristobal wants to know how you shoot someone five times in the back, and have nothing be wrong? He’s infuriated, he’s hurt, and he’s in pain.”
Weber’s sister Tracie said she is still affected by her brother’s death…
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