Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Deputies Fatally Shoot Black Man Who Dropped Gun From Bundle
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
September 1, 2020

Share

LOS ANGELES — A Black man who deputies said was stopped for riding his bicycle in violation of vehicle codes was fatally shot when he dropped a bundle of items that included a gun, authorities said, setting of a protest march to a nearby sheriff’s station in Los Angeles.

Sheriff’s Lt. Brandon Dean said the specific violations were not known, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Dean said investigators had not yet interviewed the deputies, but he gave this account: When deputies tried to stop the man, he dropped his bike and ran. When they caught up to him he punched one of them in the face and dropped a bundle of clothes he was carrying. The deputies spotted a handgun in the bundle and opened fire.

“He was in possession of a firearm and did assault a deputy,” Dean said.

Family members at the scene identified the dead man as Dijon Kizzee, 29, CBS-Los Angeles reported, but the sheriff’s department said it could not immediately confirm his identity.

Police say the handgun was recovered and no deputies were injured. TV news helicopters showed a gun near the body.

Protesters clash with deputies of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department during protests following the death of Dijon Kizzee on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, in Los Angeles, Calif. (AP Photo/Christian Monterrosa)

Protesters Gathered and More Than 100 People Marched To a Sheriff’s Station

Protesters gathered and more than 100 people marched to a sheriff’s station. Some chanted “Say his name” and “No justice, no peace,” the Times reported.

Neighborhood resident Arlander Givens, 68, questioned why deputies fired at a man who, according to the sheriff’s official, wasn’t holding a weapon.

“If he reached down to grab it, that’s different,” Givens told the Times. “But if it’s on the ground, why shoot? That means he was unarmed.”

Dean, in a Monday afternoon press conference, said investigators had not yet interviewed witnesses or reviewed any surveillance or cellphone video.

“Give us time to conduct our investigation,” he said. “We will get all of the facts of this case and eventually present them.”

The Sheriff’s Department said multiple independent investigations began at the scene.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is set to vote Tuesday to fund a body-worn camera program for the sheriff’s department. Sheriff Alex Villanueva has feuded with the supervisors in recent months and repeatedly called on them to approve the money for the body cameras.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

UP NEXT

All Six People Aboard Plane That Crashed in San Diego Confirmed Dead

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

1 hour ago

White House National Security Council Hit by More Firings, Sources Say

2 hours ago

California Allocates $56 Million to Combat Youth Homelessness

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that California will distribute $56 million across 52 counties to house and support young adults leavi...

8 minutes ago

8 minutes ago

California Allocates $56 Million to Combat Youth Homelessness

20 minutes ago

Let the Hunt for Fresno County Fruit Trail Delights Begin!

A Valley Crimes Stoppers tip and surveillance footage led Fresno police to arrest Andy Ramos on Thursday, May 22, 2025, who confessed to a May 11 shooting that left a man hospitalized in stable condition. (Fresno PD)
45 minutes ago

Fresno Police Arrest Suspect in Southwest Shooting Through Valley Crime Stoppers’ Tip

Police officers and forensic experts work at Hamburg's main train station, after several people were injured in a knife attack, in Hamburg, Germany, May 23, 2025. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer
1 hour ago

18 Injured in Knife Attack in Hamburg, Report Says

A view of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 20, 2024. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/File Photo
2 hours ago

White House National Security Council Hit by More Firings, Sources Say

Emergency personnel work at the crash scene on a street, after a small civilian aircraft went down in a military neighborhood in San Diego, California, U.S. May 22, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake
2 hours ago

All Six People Aboard Plane That Crashed in San Diego Confirmed Dead

3 hours ago

Explore the Wild Side of Route 66 With These Natural Wonders

3 hours ago

Billy Joel Cancels Touring After Being Diagnosed With a Brain Disorder

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend