The previous Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who shot Andres Guardado within the again a number of occasions, a killing that touched off days of raucous protests, won’t face felony expenses.
Prosecutors decided there was “inadequate proof” to prosecute ex-deputy Miguel Vega in Guardado’s dying, in response to a 31-page memo distributed to media on Friday afternoon. Based on the memo, the shortage of surveillance footage and the truth that Vega was the lone witness to the taking pictures have been vital hurdles that prosecutors couldn’t overcome.
Vega and Guardado first crossed paths close to a Gardena auto physique store in June 2020. The deputy and his associate, Chris Hernandez, mentioned they noticed the 18-year-old “produce a handgun” and flee from them as they approached, in response to the sheriff’s division.
Vega drew his weapon and gave chase, ordering Guardado to drop the firearm, in response to the district lawyer’s memo. The teenager complied and obtained on the bottom, however as Vega moved to handcuff him, authorities allege Guardado then reached for the weapon. Vega then shot Guardado 5 occasions within the again.
“Vega advised investigators he needed to holster his firearm to handcuff Guardado. When Vega did so, Guardado reached for his pistol. As soon as armed, it could have taken Guardado solely an on the spot to fireplace the weapon at Vega,” the memo learn. “Guardado’s actions in reaching for the firearm brought on Vega to concern for his life. If Vega’s description of occasions is correct, Vega moderately believed he wanted to make use of lethal power to defend in opposition to this menace when he fired his responsibility weapon at Guardado.”
Vega’s credibility, nonetheless, is very questionable. On Thursday, an unsealed federal indictment revealed he and Hernandez have been charged with conspiracy, witness tampering, falsification of information and depriving a 24-year-old skateboarder of his civil rights in an incident that happened two months earlier than Guardado’s killing.
“My coronary heart goes out to the Guardado household. Nothing that my workplace can do will mitigate the unimaginable ache that those who knew and beloved Andres have to be feeling. This determination doesn’t validate the actions of those officers,” Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón mentioned in a press release. “They’ve a troubling background of misconduct and that was totally thought of. Sadly, on the finish of the day we don’t consider that there’s sufficient proof to show the case past an inexpensive doubt.”
The sheriff’s division didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. An lawyer for Guardado’s household didn’t return a name in search of remark.
Prosecutors initially beneficial in opposition to charging Vega in Guardado’s dying final 12 months, in response to information reviewed by The Occasions, although the district lawyer’s workplace has repeatedly declined to touch upon that truth or focus on the eight-month delay between that discovering and the announcement to the general public that expenses can be declined.
On Thursday, Tiffiny Blacknell, the district lawyer’s workplace’s director of communications, mentioned prosecutors have been “within the strategy of assembly with the Guardado household on the taking pictures case” and anticipated to make an announcement “quickly.”
