Los Angeles, CA – Chanting “We want justice for Edwin Rodriguez,” the family and lawyers announced, at a July 5 press conference, the filing of a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles and Deputy Sheriffs Andrew Alatorre and Sandy Galdamez for the killing of the 24-year-old father.

The press conference, held at the historic Olvera Street Placita was attended by the family members, attorneys and the Centro CSO Community Service Organization. The public heard the chants for justice and saw the large banners. There was a large turnout from Spanish and English media.

Edwin Rodriguez was pulled over by ELA Sheriffs, beaten and shot to death on Feb. 14, 2016. He was shot 17 times – 16 shots were fatal – with many shots to his back and back of head. The sheriffs claimed that Rodriguez was in a stolen car and a small hand gun was found at the scene. However, the car was not stolen; it belonged to the driver’s mother. Antonio Rodriguez, the family's attorney said, “There was no reason to pull them over and Edwin was unarmed when shot and killed.”

Estela Rodriguez, mother of Edwin, stated, “My son was a caring person who worked and loved art; he did not deserve to be killed in such a brutal way. We will fight for justice for my son, so that it does not happen to others.”

Stephanie Yanez, Edwin Rodriguez’s partner, said that he was a good father and did not deserve to die so young.

Jorge Gonzalez, co-attorney on the case, stated that the LA County Sheriffs are not held accountable for unjustified killings; they are not prosecuted.

Carlos Montes, long time Chicano activist organizer with Centro CSO stated, “These police killings have been going on for years in a pattern of abuse and brutality against the Chicano community. The LA County Sheriffs are racist, official killers.”

The Rodriguez family and Centro CSO have called for the firing and prosecution of Sheriff’s Deputies Alatorre and Galdamez.

According to the lawsuit, on Feb. 14, 2016, at about 3:00 a.m., Deputies Alatorre and Galdamez unlawfully stopped a vehicle in which Defendent Rodriguez and two friends were riding. At the intersection of Ferris and Whittier Boulevard, in East Los Angeles, the sheriff’s deputies ran up to the vehicle with guns drawn and shouting commands at them. After physically removing the driver of the vehicle, a female, the deputies forcefully pulled Eduardo (Edwin) out of the front passenger side and away from the vehicle and into the middle of the street where suddenly and without warning, provocation or legal justification, Deputies Alatorre and Galdamez shot at Eduardo seventeen (17) times with their handguns mostly to the back of his torso and head, causing him fatal injuries and to expire immediately.

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