Thread by @KateCagle

LASD whistleblower Deputy Art Gonzalez said - under oath - the deputy who shot and killed 18-year-old Andres Guardado was a prospective member of the Executioners, an alleged violent clique of tattooed deputies inside the Compton Sheriff's station. #andresguardado

WATCH:

Gonzalez said the Executioners controlled the work schedule and boosted arrest numbers at the station. He accused them of falsely reporting suspects had guns in order to justify use of force.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva @LACoSheriff said the department is investigating Gonzalez's claims, relieved two deputies of duty and transferred six others.

But he also said the allegations were likely exaggerated.

I reached out to the lawyers for both deputies involved in the Guardado shooting but didn't hear back.

I'll have more of my reporting tonight at 5 p.m. on #YourWeekend on Spectrum News 1.

“There are parties after shootings. They call them ‘998 parties.’ Some people say it’s to celebrate the deputy is alive. Others say it’s to celebrate that they’re going to be ‘inking’ somebody.”

My full story:

bit.ly/3bbzrlR

From the lawyer for Deputy Miguel Vega:

The completely unsubstantiated allegation that Deputy Vega was a prospective member of some sort of station clique is appalling and absolutely false. Mr. Gonzalez readily admits his only support for this claim is "common knowledge...”