East Los Angeles, CA – On the afternoon of March 14, East LA Sheriffs shot and killed David Ordaz Jr., 34, when the family called for mental health support. Ordaz, father of three children, graduated from the local Garfield High School where he played football. As a young man he was an altar boy and lector at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic church. His large working-class family is devastated from witnessing the brutal killing of David in front of their home.

Deputies said they found Ordaz with a kitchen knife inside of his car parked in front of the home. They called for a mental evaluation team, but it never arrived. Ordaz exited the car and was shot with a bean bag and then shot immediately with live ammunition. Ordaz fell to the ground. As he lay wounded a Sheriff's deputy walked up close to him and gave one final deadly shot to his upper body, killing him instantly.

Paramedics rendered aid to Ordaz before transporting him to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The LA County Sheriffs have been involved in several killings when families call emergency for help regarding mental health situations. In a very similar officer-involved killing, East LA Sheriffs tased and beat to death Chicano Eric Briceno inside of his home in Maywood. Briceno was asleep in his own bedroom when he was killed on March 16, 2020. Briceno's parents had called the Sheriffs during a mental health emergency. Instead of helping him, the Sheriffs killed Briceno.

Recent scandal has fallen on East LA Sheriffs with an FBI investigation of one of their gangs within their ranks – The Banditos. LA Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is said to be a member. Centro CSO, along with a coalition named Check the Sheriffs, have been busy building momentum to “Boot the Bandito – Alex Villanueva.”

Centro CSO and families have raised calls for the prosecution of these killer cops. An upcoming town hall on March 27 at 12 noon Pacific Time will have families speak out to denounce the killing of their loved ones. Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis will attend the town hall. If you wish to attend, contact Centro CSO at 323-943-2030 or @CentroCSO on Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

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Los Angeles, CA – A protest shook the East LA Sheriff's Department station, Sept. 8. Lisa Vargas, the mother of Anthony Vargas, who was murdered by LA sheriffs, told the crowd “We’re here today for Anthony but we also know there are others who lose loved ones and don’t come out to speak. For whatever reason, but we’re for them also. We believe that my son was innocent. And we believe that he did not deserve this.”

21-year-old Anthony Vargas was shot 14 times – twice in the head – and killed by the East LA sheriffs on August 13. LA sheriffs were called to apprehend a suspect in a robbery. But now the sheriffs say Vargas may have been a mistaken suspect.

The Vargas family, Centro CSO members and members of the community held a large picket line on the sidewalk in front of ELA Sheriff’s Station, followed by a march to the entrance of the building. There, an angry rally demanded justice for Anthony Vargas, the release of the names of the killer cops, and for the cops to be prosecuted and jailed.

Anthony Vargas’ twin brother, Dre Vargas, spoke about the loss. “He was a good person, that’s why you see a lot of people here today. My brother should not have gone the way that he did. We’re gonna keep fighting for him, justice for my brother Anthony Vargas.”

Vargas was an enthusiastic fisherman, attended Garfield High School, taught bible classes and was well-liked. Vargas’ friends from the Maravilla Projects attended in support of the Vargas family.

Vargas’ lawyer Humberto Guizar spoke, “If I have to fight on the streets with all of you to win justice, I will do that. And I will also take it the courts, and fight for justice there. I will not stop until we all win justice for Anthony Vargas.”

Reading a powerful account on the loss of her older brother, Vargas’ younger sister Melanie Luna said, “Me and my family waited hours behind lines of yellow tape, before we were finally allowed to see his body on the grass. 14 shots including wounds to his head. They took him from us.”

Vargas’ brother Geo Vargas spoke about his dismay, “LA sheriffs murdered my baby brother Anthony. They said he was involved in things that he wasn't. Why was his life taken away?”

Centro CSO is working with the Vargas family and uniting with other families in Boyle Heights and East LA who are also victims of Los Angeles Police Department and Sherriff’s Department killings. Centro CSO supports all families and communities in demanding that Los Angeles District Attorney Jackie Lacey prosecute police in the killing of Chicanos, Blacks and Latinos.

#LosAngelesCA #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #CentroCSO #EastLASheriffsDepartment #LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment #LASD