The attorney representing the family members of Edgar Villareal, 25, who was shot and killed during an alleged gunfight with a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy in Lynwood, has released an alleged video of the incident.
“Villarreal was ambushed and wrongfully, negligently, and intentionally shot and killed by a lone Los Angeles Sheriff Deputy,” said the law offices of James P. Segal-Gutierrez, who are representing Villareal’s family, in a statement.
The shooting took place at the 4000 block of Agnes Street in April 8, 2013, and the video was said to have been provided to the law office by a resident of the area.
Authorities claim that the deputy made an attempt to contact Villareal at around 1:39 p.m. Further accusing Villareal of pulling a gun and shooting at the officer.
Segal-Gutierrez told Patch that he as of yet did not have any evidence that confirmed the authorities version of events. Further claiming that eyewitness testimony collected by his law firm has allowed them to conclude that Villareal did not fire at the deputy.
“He was shot in cold blood from behind,” said Segal-Gutierrez. “They need to treat the public accordingly, and not like it's safari hunting.”
Segal-Gutierrez told Patch that Villareal was shot 9 times during the incident, including 2 times in the head. Detectives have yet to return Patch’s request for comment regarding these recent allegations.
Investigators have stated priorly that a gun was found at the scene of the incident.
“He did have a gun for safety,” said Alicia Villareal, Edgar’s sister, according to KTLA.
“The fact this is a quiet neighborhood, but every once in awhile you get approached — ‘Hey, where are you from?’… So he felt he had to have it for some type of protection,” said Villareal’s sister, according to KTLA.
Segal-Gutierrez told Patch that his office plans on filing claims for damages on behalf of Villareal's family, in the amount of $10 million, at some point next week.
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