LA County Sheriff's Deputies Admit to Fatally Shooting Innocent Man
Source: NBC Universal
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department admitted Thursday to fatally shooting an innocent victim of a knife attack whom they mistook for a suspect.
In the wake of the admission, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced murder charges against the suspect. No charges have been announced against the deputies.
At a press conference Thursday evening, a sheriff's department spokesman said an internal investigation has been launched into the shooting.
Deputies on Monday were responding to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon and man with a knife in an apartment in the
900 block of Palm Avenue when two men came running toward them, according to a press release by the sheriff's department.
The deputies mistakenly thought one of the men was the victim and the other the suspect, officials said. They opened fire,
shooting and killing John Winkler, 30.
"Believing Winkler was the assailant and the assault was ongoing and he would attack the entry team; three deputies fired their
duty weapons at him," the department's release said. "Victim Winkler was struck by the gunfire and fell to the floor."
The other victim, already covered in blood, was struck in the leg by the gunfire and collapsed.
Deputies later realized that Winkler, who was wearing a black shirt and fit the assailant's description, was a victim.
After shooting Winkler, the deputies found the real suspect, Alexander McDonald, 27, allegedly choking someone inside the
apartment, with a knife on the floor nearby, officials said.
Read more: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/deputies-shoot-kill-innocent-victim-west-hollywood-stabbing-254814311.html
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