Killing of Dijon Kizzee

Dijon Kizzee, an American cyclist, was shot and killed in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Westmont on August 31, 2020 by deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). For days, protesters gathered outside the heavily guarded South Los Angeles sheriff's station in tense but peaceful demonstrations. By September 6, those demonstrations escalated to clashes, with deputies firing projectiles and tear gas at the crowds and arresting 35 people over four nights of unrest.[1][2]

Killing of Dijon Kizzee
DateAugust 31, 2020 (2020-08-31)
Time3:15 pm
Location1200 block of West 109th Place, Westmont, California, U.S.
TypeShooting
ParticipantsLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Deaths1
Chargesnone

Death

Two deputies were on patrol in the Westmont neighborhood on August 31, around 3:15 p.m. LASD claimed the deputies tried to stop Kizzee, 29, for committing a traffic violation on his bike; but did not disclose what the violation was. Deputies later announced the stop was for Kizzee riding his bicycle on the wrong side of the road and splitting traffic.[3]

Kizzee allegedly dropped the bike and ran a block while holding a jacket and other clothing[3] before deputies caught him. Kizzee allegedly punched one deputy and, as they grappled, "he dropped a jacket at which time a black semi-automatic handgun fell to the ground." Deputies opened fired when Kizzee "made a motion" toward the gun, according to a police statement said; however, the LASD did not state that Kizzee motioned toward the gun until more than 24 hours after the incident.

Security video shows Kizzee struggling with one deputy and then attempting to move away as both deputies repeatedly shoot at him — even after he fell to the ground.[4] Kizzee was shot around 20 times and then police handcuffed his body.[5]

Investigation

Video from a nearby surveillance camera is inconclusive, as a wall partially blocks the camera's view.[6] There was no body cam footage as the Department's first body cameras were scheduled to be in service the next month, after years of delay.[4]

On September 4, L.A. County Inspector General Max Huntsman was blocked from attending the autopsy of Kizzee. Huntsman told an emergency town hall meeting of the Civilian Oversight Commission that he had asked sheriff's officials to observe the proceedings.[4] On September 8, the Sheriff's Department has requested a “security hold” on the autopsy. A security hold typically involves the autopsy not being released to the public until after law enforcement has concluded its investigation. Detectives were worried that releasing the information in the midst of their investigation could taint witnesses’ stories.[6] The autopsy conducted on September 2 indicated that Kizzee was shot 16 times, including gunshot wounds to his head, torso and back. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.[7][8]

Reactions

Kizzee's family has retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who in the past has represented other families of individuals shot and killed by police, such as Jacob Blake’s family from Kenosha, Wisconsin.[9]

Family members of Kizzee joined other families of individuals killed by the LASD, to demand a state investigation of the department and raised claims the department was rife with corruption. Kizzee's cousin; Jaime Kizzee alleged that the department, "...hunted my cousin, and the sheriff's department shot him nineteen times."[10] A community activist; Najee Ali, echoed these beliefs while speaking for the family stating that Kizzee had been racially profiled and harassed by the deputies. Ali continued by stating that the Kizzee family and other community leaders felt that Sheriff Alex Villanueva should step down from his position.[3]

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors announced they would consider a motion to seek options to remove Sheriff Alex Villanueva on October 27 after weeks of call to step down over concerns of his resistance to oversight and transparency. Additional concerns were raised after Villanueva had blocked independent investigations into a string of police shootings, which included the death of Kizzee.[11]

Protests

Protests have occurred since the announcement about Dijon Kizzee's death. The Los Angeles Police Department been the main agency present at each protest since August 31. By September 6, those demonstrations escalated to clashes, with deputies firing projectiles and tear gas at the crowds and arresting 35 people over four nights of unrest.[2]

August 31

Immediately following the shooting, hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters gathered at the shooting scene and then marched to the police station, where they remained into early next morning before dispersing. There were some reports of vandalism, but there was no violence and no arrests. Protesters also spray painted some inflammatory messages outside the station.[12]

September 4

A protest which began at 4 p.m. and quickly swelled to about 200-300 people, as friends, family and activists remembered the life of Kizzee, called for law enforcement agencies to be de-funded, and asked attendees to vote Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey out of office. Police fired at least three nonlethal warning shots at 8:30 p.m., however no one appeared to have breached the line. A spokesperson with the L.A. County Sheriff's Office said protesters started throwing rocks and bottles at deputies. By 8:43 p.m. police declared the crowd an unlawful assembly and gave protesters 10 minutes to clear out.[13]

September 6

In a second day of unrest, twelve protesters were arrested when demonstrations turned violent, with two of the protesters arrested being minors. According to police the protesters were throwing chunks of concrete, bricks and rocks. Protesters wearing helmets and carrying shields also launched mortars at the deputies, according to a police spokesperson. No injuries or property damage was reported.[14]

September 7

On another night of unrest, protests turned chaotic when Los Angeles county deputies fired several nonlethal projectiles into the crowd. The protests occurred outside the South L.A. sheriff's station, which followed a news conference criticizing the department's earlier handling of a protest. Videos showed protesters running for cover as shots rang out and smoke filled the air. No protesters or police were injured in the clashes but six people were arrested, according to police.[15]

September 8

In a further escalation another 17 protesters were arrested, marking the third straight night of arrest for protests over the controversial shooting of Kizzee. The arrests came after an "unlawful assembly" was issued around 8:15 p.m. There were no reported injuries.[16]

September 12

About 200 people marched from where Kizzee was shot to a location near the South Los Angeles Sheriff's Station to protest, while chanting "Put down your riot gear. I don't see no riot here.". After the group marched back to the shooting location, multiple speakers spoke to the crowd including relatives of Kizzee and Anthony Weber a 16-year-old shot and killed by police in 2018.[17]

See also

References
  1. Huang, Josie. "In South LA, March For Dijon Kizzee Turns Chaotic Outside Sheriff's Station". LAist.
  2. Miller, Leila; Tchekmedyian, Alene (September 9, 2020). "Dozens arrested as protesters and deputies clash in Dijon Kizzee demonstrations in L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  3. Sarah Moon and Alexandra Meeks (September 18, 2020). "Investigators say Los Angeles deputies fired 19 times at Dijon Kizzee after he tried to pick up a gun". CNN. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  4. Stoltze, Frank. "Sheriff's Top Watchdog Says Department Blocked Him From Kizzee Autopsy". LAist.
  5. "Los Angeles police fatally shoot black man Dijon Kizzee after alleged bicycle violation". The Telegraph. September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  6. Stoltze, -Frank. "LA Sheriff Requests 'Security Hold' on Dijon Kizzee Autopsy". LAist.
  7. Kallingal, Mallika; Mossburg, Cheri (October 3, 2020). "Official autopsy shows Black man killed by Los Angeles deputies was shot 16 times". CNN. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  8. Jablon, Robert (October 3, 2020). "Autopsy finds LA deputies shot Black man 16 times". AP News. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  9. "Protests Continue 9 Days After LASD Shoots, Kills Dijon Kizzee In South LA". KCAL 9 CBS Los Angeles. September 9, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  10. "Families Of People Killed By LASD Deputies Call For State Investigation". KCAL 9 CBS Los Angeles. October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  11. Tchekmedyian, Alene (October 26, 2020). "L.A. County supervisors to consider motion seeking options to remove Sheriff Villanueva". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  12. "Protesters Demand Answers After Bicyclist Shot, Killed By Deputies In South LA". September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  13. "Deputies and Demonstrators Clash During Protest Over Dijon Kizzee Shooting Death". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  14. "12 Demonstrators Arrested After 'Chunks Of Concrete, Bricks' Thrown At Deputies During Dijon Kizzee Protest". September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  15. "Deputies fire projectiles into crowd during third night of Dijon Kizzee protests". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  16. "17 Arrested Tuesday Night As South LA Dijon Kizzee Protests Continue". CBS Los Angeles. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  17. "Hundreds Protest Shooting of Dijon Kizzee by LASD Deputies". spectrumnews1.com. September 12, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
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