Victim in deputy shooting identified

The man shot by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy responding to a domestic violence call Thursday morning has been identified.

Family at the scene identified the man as 63-yearold Michael Thomas. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the press release.

According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department, Lancaster Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to a domestic violence call at 5:22 a.m. in the 600 block of West Avenue H-12.

Once on scene, they tried to detain the suspect for a domestic violence investigation, but he refused to comply with their orders. As a result, an altercation ensued between him and the deputies, during

which the suspect allegedly attempted to gain control of a deputy’s firearm and the shooting occurred.

Deputies responded to the 911 call allegedly placed by Thomas’ girlfriend. She did not speak to the operator, but instead left the line open. Fighting and arguing between the caller and Thomas could be heard in the background, according to the Sheriff ’s Department.

Thomas’ girlfriend later gave deputies a recorded statement in which she admitted to placing the call and allegedly said she’s been assaulted by the suspect.

However, during a press conference Thursday afternoon, announced by Miguel Coronado with Agents of Change, who spoke on the family’s behalf, Thomas’ relatives had varying accounts of what occurred early Thursday morning.

Coronado said deputies forced their way into the home after Thomas told them it was his right to refuse their entry.

Thomas’ girlfriend, who was there at the time of the incident, reported that four deputies restrained him, while a fifth shot him in the stomach.

Thomas’ brother said he exited his room, to find deputies performing CPR on his brother and they forced him outside.

Thomas’ brother and girlfriend said they never saw him reach for a gun.

The sheriff ’s Homicide Bureau, internal affairs and the county Office of the Inspector General are all doing separate investigations, which is standard procedure during officer-involved shootings.

The family declined to issue a statement for this report.

Lancaster station Capt. Todd Weber also declined to comment.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous should call LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or download the P3 Mobile App on a smartphone via Google Play or the App store. Tipsters may also visit http://lacrimestoppers.org