LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva held an early morning press conference on August 12 to provide the community updates into the deputy involved shooting of Andres Guardado. Villanueva stressed the department is taking its time in conducting multiple investigations related to the location of Guardado’s shooting.
According to Commander Marks, on June 18 deputies saw Andres Guardado talking to occupants of a white Lexus parked in front of an auto repair shop located at 420 W. Redondo Beach Blvd. in the unincorporated area of Gardena.
Deputies from the Compton Sheriff’s Station are assigned to patrol the area which has been the scene of multiple service calls related to drug activity.
On Jun 7 deputies were called to the location where they found a male victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. A trail of blood was traced from the victim to the interior of the repair shop where nitrous oxide, and a were discovered.
Deputies obtained a DVR and a search warrant to view the contents of the video which showed a line of customers with containers in their hand presumed to be purchasing nitrous oxide otherwise known as NOS. The video obtained captured the shooting.
Despite assertions from Guardado’s family that he was working as security guard, neither the building owner or shop manager provided a statement corroborating that claim.
Deputies confirmed Guardado was neither a registered security guard nor old enough to be an armed guard. He had no identifying clothing, gun holster or handcuffs, to indicate he was working.
A handgun was recovered that contained Guardado’s fingerprints on both the trigger and magazine clip.
Deputies showed video footage of Guradado talking to occupants in the Lexus, however, investigators have been unable to speak to the occupants and are asking for the public’s help in locating them. The video shows them go into their trunk but due to the proximity of the cameras, viewers are unable to ascertain what was in the trunk and no ability to identify the license plate.
Deputies commented that parallel investigations are occurring on the location in question due to the June 7 and June 18 shootings. During that time, multiple traffic stops were conducted in front of the repair shop which resulted in the recovery of drugs, guns and arrests.
The auto repair shop has a documented history of criminal activity spanning five years.
“Since January 1, 2015, there have been twenty-three calls for service received at 420 W. Redondo Beach Blvd,” said Marks. “These calls include ten disturbance, two burglaries, two batteries and two vandalism calls.”
A gang related murder occurred at the location on November 2, 2018, which remains unsolved.
There is no indication that Guardado was connected to the previous shooting, but shared that the location was a known drug location, to give perspective as to why the deputies were in the area.
Since the June 7 shooting more than five people have been arrested in connection to the ongoing investigation.
Thirteen additional search warrants have been served at multiple locations yielding five arrests. As a result several firearms, illegal narcotics and $100,000 have been recovered.
On June 9 deputies conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle blocking the driveway of the repair shop. After approaching the car, they smelled marijuana they detained the cars two occupants recovering narcotics and an unregistered firearm and both were arrested.
On June 11 deputies approached another vehicle, parked in the red zone, and arrested an occupant for possession of methamphetamine.
Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, an administrative investigation of the shooting cannot take place until the criminal investigation is completed.
On August 11 Sheriff Villanueva announced that two deputies were dismissed and six others were transferred out of the Compton Sheriff’s Station but provided no details as to why.
Villanueva also announced the completion of a body camera contract with Axon that will outfit deputies with crucial equipment in order to “restore the public’s trust” with the department. Five stations will be provided the cameras beginning October 1.
1 Comment
I heard and read that Lakewood is in the top five and will receive their cameras before Compton. Compton did mot have a timeline.
It would be vital for Compton to receive their cameras as soon as possible.