Los Angeles (AP) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was investigating the fatal shooting of a Black man by two deputies Monday afternoon.
In a statement, Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez said detectives responded at 3:16 p.m. to the 1200 block of West 109th Place, unincorporated Los Angeles, to investigate the shooting.
The department said on its Twitter account that, “During the contact, a fight ensued between the suspect and deputies.” The man produced a handgun and “a deputy-involved ‘hit’ shooting” occurred.
Sheriff’s Lt. Brandon Dean said late Monday that two deputies from the South Los Angeles station were driving when the saw a man riding his bicycle in violation of vehicle codes, according to the Los Angeles Times. It was not known which codes the man allegedly broke, Dean said.
When deputies tried to stop the man, he dropped his bike and ran, with deputies in pursuit, Dean said. Deputies again tried to make contact with the man and Dean said, he allegedly punched a deputy in the face. The man then dropped a bundle of clothes he’d been carrying and they spotted a black handgun in the bundle, at which point both deputies opened fire, Dean said.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, Navarro-Suarez said. Police say the handgun was recovered and no deputies were injured.
Family members at the scene identified the dead man as Dijon Kizzee, 29, CBS-Los Angeles reported.
This is #DijonKizzee, 29 yrs old and shot and killed by LA Sheriffs after being stopped for a bike violation. Cops handcuffed his lifeless body. While police investigations can drag on for months/years, cops have already claimed he ran away, and dropped clothes and a gun. #BLM pic.twitter.com/pM6mQfWLeQ
— Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) September 1, 2020
Shooting by police on 109th/Normandie in Los Angeles. Killed with 27 shots. And then they handcuffed him dead. pic.twitter.com/YG20VaqKTI
— lovinglynn (@lovelylynn44) September 1, 2020
Protesters gathered demanding answers, and more than 100 people marched to a sheriff’s station on Imperial Highway. Some said they didn’t think the shooting was justified while others chanted, “Say his name” and “No justice, no peace” the Times reported.
Los Angeles County Sheriffs killed a Black man…Dijon…on 109th and Budlong and left his body facedown in the dirt.
We need all hands on deck.
Please get here ASAP!— #BlackLivesMatter-LA (@BLMLA) September 1, 2020
SAY HIS NAME!#DijonKizzee pic.twitter.com/H5B402yiJq
— People's City Council – Los Angeles (@PplsCityCouncil) September 1, 2020
Arlander Givens, 68, lives in the neighborhood. He 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.”
The investigation is ongoing.
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