South Central, Los Angeles–Los Angeles Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed 29-year-old Dijon Kizzee yesterday, sparking protest that lasted until around 3:00 a.m. The shooting comes a year after L.A County officials approved a $3.75 million settlement in the 2018 shooting death of 16-year-old Anthony Weber by Sheriff’s deputies.
Kizzee was on his bicycle when police attempted to stop him for “vehicle code violations.” LASD has not made it clear yet exactly what codes Kizzee was violating when they attempted to stop him.
Kizzee is said to have dropped clothes where a gun was allegedly concealed as he attempted to flee from police. According to attorney Benjamin Crump who has been retained by the family, Kizzee was shot in his back at least 20 times by Sheriff’s deputies.
Black Lives Matter Los Angeles tweeted about Kizzee’s death, asking people to support the family. Protestors joined Kizzee’s family near 109th and Budlong following the news of Kizzee’s killing.
The family wanted a peaceful vigil and protestors were asked to hold off on chanting. Around 11:00 p.m the family cleared the space and protestors traveled a short distance to the Sheriff’s station in South Central located on Imperial and Budlong.
A group of about 80 people–some on foot and some in vehicles–protested in front of the Sheriff’s station where police had formed a line near the entrance of the station. The group of protestors also marched through residential streets during the early morning hours.
Weber was only 16 when he was killed in 2018 by Sheriff’s deputies.
According to the New York Times:
“The death of Anthony, 16, did not lead to criminal charges against the deputies involved. But in a lawsuit filed last year, family members alleged that they had violated the civil rights of an unarmed teenager.
The Sheriff’s Department has said that Anthony had a handgun, even though no weapon was found at the scene after he was shot.”
Photos of Kizzee via Facebook
