Deputies Shoot And Kill Black Man In South LA, Sparking Protest
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies shot and killed a Black man Monday afternoon, sparking a protest and an investigation by homicide detectives. Two deputies tried to stop the man as he was riding his bicycle and the encounter turned violent, the Sheriff's Department says.
A large crowd gathered near the scene of the shooting in south Los Angeles, chanting "no justice, no peace" as deputies stood facing them. They also chanted the name Dijon Kizzee — the dead man's name, according to the Los Angeles chapter of Black Lives Matter and media reports citing family members. Officials have not yet publicly identified the man.
The fatal encounter took place around 3:15 p.m. local time. The Sheriff's Department said the two deputies saw the man riding his bicycle in violation of vehicle codes, according to the LA Times, but offered no details about the man or the nature of any infraction.
The man dropped the bike and fled on foot. An eyewitness video shows him running and carrying what looks to be a bundle of clothing.
When deputies caught up with the man, he "punched one of the officers in the face and then dropped the items in his hands," sheriff's Lt. Brandon Dean said during a briefing Monday evening.