An 18-year-old man was shot and killed Thursday by a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy in Gardena.
The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. in the 400 block of Redondo Beach Boulevard, near Figueroa Street, in the unincorporated West Compton area, according to Deputy James Nagao.
Family members identified the man as 18-year-old Andres Guardado, who they say worked as a security guard. However, deputies say Guardado was not a licensed security guard.
Deputies from the Compton Station were patrolling the area when they spotted the man, Lt. Charles Calderaro told reporters at the scene.
"Deputies observed the individual, at which point he observed the deputies,'' Calderaro said. "The individual then produced a hand gun and began running southbound away from the deputies through businesses nearby.
"Deputies engaged in a short foot pursuit between the two businesses. At some point, deputies contacted the suspect and that's when the deputy-involved shooting occurred."
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The victim was not wearing a security guard uniform at the time deputies spotted him and a gun was recovered at the scene, Calderaro said.
Guardado's sister said their family don't believe he was armed and that he was shot in the back several times. However, the sheriff's department said the man was shot in the upper torso.
His family said they are calling for an independent investigation
"Even if this is the last day I breathe, I'm not holding this back because I feel it in my soul that my brother was murdered and this was covered up," said Jennifer Gurdado, the victim's sister.
Guardado died at the scene, Nagao said. No deputies were injured.
