An inquest into the death of Andres Guardado has confirmed the 18-year-old's death as a homicide. Last year, Guardado was shot five times in the back while working as a security guard at an auto body shop. The deputies involved in his killing, Miguel Vega and Chris Hernandez, allegedly saw him with a gun. Guardado then ran away, and deputies chased him into an alley. While a 40-caliber semiautomatic pistol that hadn't been fired was found at the scene, authorities were unable to clarify whether Guardado ever aimed the gun at the deputies.
The inquest into his death was the first in Los Angeles County in more than 30 years. Former Court of Appeals Justice Candace Cooper, who conducted the inquest, came to the conclusion that Guardado's death was a homicide.