Nov. 10, 2020
In the interest of public transparency, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has appointed a former Court of Appeals Justice to conduct an inquest beginning Nov. 30 into the circumstances, manner, and cause of death of Andres Guardado Pineda. This will be the first inquest held in Los Angeles County in more than 30 years.
Retired Justice Candace Cooper, who has served as a respected presiding justice on the California Court of Appeals and as a Superior and Municipal Court judge, has been appointed as the hearing officer who will preside over the inquest.
State law permits the Medical Examiner-Coroner to order a formal inquest any time there is a death of an individual in the County. The inquest supports the department's mission and purpose to provide independent, evidence-based death investigations, addresses the public’s interest in the death, and is in accord with a motion approved by the Board of Supervisors on September 1, 2020.
“The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner is committed to transparency and providing the residents of Los Angeles County an independent assessment of its findings in this case,” said Dr. Jonathan Lucas, Los Angeles County’s Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner. “An inquest ensures that our residents will have an independent review of all the evidence and findings of our office and of the cause and manner of death of Mr. Guardado.”
Guardado died June 18, 2020 as a result of a Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy-involved shooting. The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner determined the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death as homicide.
The Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner will subpoena relevant witnesses to testify and documents to present at the inquest. After hearing testimony, the hearing officer will make findings related to the cause and manner of death.
The hearing officer will then forward her decision and recommendation to the Medical Examiner-Coroner.
This inquest will be public, in adherence with Public Health guidelines and protocols.
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Media Contact:
Sarah Ardalani
Public Information Officer
(323) 343-0783
Follow the department's official Twitter page @lacountymec.