“As a result of that interaction, Sheriff Villanueva has directed a thorough review of our policy as it pertains to the deployment of the AR-15 rifle, as seen in the video,” Los Angeles County sheriff’s Chief Dennis Kneer said in a video posted on Twitter. “We will thoroughly review our actions related to this incident and take appropriate action as necessary.”
The incident occurred Friday, Aug. 7, at about 5 p.m. in the 19200 block of Soledad Canyon Road, near Whites Canyon Road.
Tammi Collins, the mother of one of the three teens, wrote on Instagram that multiple witnesses called authorities after seeing the group being attacked.
The man asked the teens if they “had any crack, then tried to take their things,” Collins said. He then took out a knife and a whip, and the teens “only had their skateboards to cover them from the knife and whip,” according to Collins.
A video posted online shows responding sheriff’s deputies with their guns pointed at the teens, who have their hands in the air, while witnesses scream at the deputies that the teens were the victims of the attack.
“It’s the other guy!” one woman is heard telling the deputies.
“Put your guns down, they’re kids, they weren’t doing anything,” another woman said.
“I am the one who called you. It was not them,” said another.
The witnesses call out to the teens to tell them to keep their hands up.
Deputies respond by telling the witnesses to back up, and at least one of the teens is seen being detained in the background while multiple deputies point their guns. It was not immediately clear if anyone was arrested.
The video had been viewed on Twitter more than 8 million times as of Tuesday afternoon. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said he was among those who saw the footage.
“I have seen the recent video involving a Santa Clarita incident which has gone viral and I have concerns regarding the tactics employed,” Villanueva said in a video posted on Twitter Monday afternoon. “The matter is currently being investigated.”
Collins posted the video on her Instagram on Saturday and it was circulated widely on Twitter.
“This is something my son and his friends will never forget,” Collins wrote in her post. “I’m still wonder(ing) how will I ever help my son recover from this traumatic experience. Please pray for my family.”
View this post on Instagram
UPDATE: @LACoSheriff directs in-depth review of LASD’s patrol rifle deployment policy and training. https://t.co/1wYHgSZi3N pic.twitter.com/cxpTuNEhct
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) August 11, 2020
Previous related story: LASD investigating after deputies detain Black teens at gunpoint in Santa Clarita
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Paul says
Maybe everyone should know how to act right than things like this wouldn’t happen. Then start blaming cops saying “Oh they want to shoot me “
Surex says
Imagine what it would be like in Lancaster if people listened to Rex’s directive to carry guns illegally and shoot the homeless if they robbed you. Someone could approach a person to ask a question and they could be shot by a someone following Rex’s advice thinking that they were being robbed.
ANNON says
Maybe they are part of the internal Bandito’s gang within the Sheriffs dept….