Off-duty sheriff’s deputy fatally shoots man in Azusa

This comes from reporter Maritza Velazquez:

AZUSA – An off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man outside an Azusa condominium complex early Wednesday morning, investigators said.
Relatives identified the dead man as 25-year-old Anthony Aguilar of Pomona.
Investigators say the deputy, who worked out of the West Hollywood Station, drove into a condominium complex near San Gabriel Canyon Road and Daybreak Drive at about 2 a.m.
He saw a man and woman acting suspiciously, investigators said. He approached and identified himself as a law enforcement officer, prompting Aguilar to reach for his waistband, Deputy Aura Sierra said.
The deputy fired one shot at the man, she said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
It was not immediately known if the suspect was armed. A weapon was not immediately found, Sierra said.
A woman who was with Aguilar was in police custody.
Aguilar’s mother, Maria Lopez, stood at the scene of the shooting late Wednesday morning. She said her son was released from jail last month after a drug possession charge, but he had no history of violent behavior.
“As old as he was, he was like an overgrown baby,” Lopez said. “He would come to me and say ‘hug me mom, love me mom.'”

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12 thoughts on “Off-duty sheriff’s deputy fatally shoots man in Azusa

  1. This is very tragic and the mother should file a wrongful death suit against the deputy. This young man was a very sweet and non-violent person and I would find it hard to believe he would have a weapon let alone try to brandish one on somebody. His family are hard working, honest and caring people and my sympathies go out to them. It seems to me like this may be another case where the deputy had an itchy trigger finger. It makes me wonder what kind of day the deputy had before his shift ended. What made his adrenalin so high? My grandfather was shot while on duty at point blank range in between his eyes and I have no sympathies for people who commit violent crimes, this includes law enforcement in wrongful death cases as well. Tony was just a big kid with a big heart.

  2. You say this as if the Deputy should know this man as you do. If that is the case, it is indeed as tragic as most deaths are, but by no means does that make it a criminal, or negligent act by the deputy. A wrongful death suit??? Really??? C’mon!!!!

    I feel for the family and friends……..I also feel for the deputy who felt he had to pull the trigger…..it’s not easy for anyone involved!

  3. I know Tony, and I know more of the facts than most people, Don’t set yourself up to judge Tony, nor the officer. Learn the facts before you make a judgement. Tony and his female friend was at Tony’s car, why would anyone think he would be there to brake into it. They had just gotten there. Tony walked away form the person because he had been going through some pretty emotional trials and Tony did not need someone else pileing more on him. Believe it or not but the officer dressed in street clothes did not identify himself as an officer. The young lady with Tony asked the man why was he hosteling them. She told him that they had just gotten there and was going to visit a friend and she and Tony were not there to brake into cars, Tony turned around to see if his female friend was following behind him, that is when the officer pulled his revolver and shot him. Tony never carried a gun and they can look until Hell freezes over and unless the police force come up with what we all know as a throw down gun, they won’t find one, as Tony was never a violent person. He did not belong to gangs. Tattoos, Yes, but then who today doesn’t. The truth is not all officers are honest, we all know that, and they sure know how to cover their behind when they screw up. Other officers are there to back them up. If you don’t believe that then you are unwisely credulous (gullible). Racist I don’t know, but believe me I personally know police officers that hate blacks. Oh, not when they have a uniform on, just when they take it off. Racist because of tattoos, maybe because they do look like gang members. You don’t know Tony, and not all things are what they seem to be all the time. News people, you sound pretty ignorant when you make statement like “Maybe that is why they were there, to brake into cars” We all know that you must sell papers, but when you make statments off the top of your head with nothing to back you up, don’t you think you would look much wiser to just keep your mouth shut. I won’t buy your paper anymore because I know you are spitting out stupidities. Now I sit everyday and look at a lovely back yard that Tony will never again be there to play with his little sister and make her laugh and feel protected because he was such a loving caring brother. Tony will be sorely missed by those who know him. It is not fair what happened and I can only pray to my Lord that the truth will come out. This older white woman loved Tony deeply and I will miss him.

  4. I know Tony, and I know more of the facts than most people, Don’t set yourself up to judge Tony, nor the officer. Learn the facts before you make a judgement. Tony and his female friend were at Tony’s car, why would anyone think he would be there to brake into it. They had just gotten there. Tony walked away form the person because he had been going through some pretty emotional trials and Tony did not need someone else pileing more on him. Believe it or not but the officer dressed in street clothes did not identify himself as an officer. The young lady with Tony asked the man why was he hosteling them. She told him that they had just gotten there and was going to visit a friend and she and Tony were not there to brake into cars, Tony turned around to see if his female friend was following behind him, that is when the officer pulled his revolver and shot him. Tony never carried a gun and they can look until Hell freezes over and unless the police force come up with what we all know as a throw down gun, they won’t find one, as Tony was never a violent person. He did not belong to gangs. Tattoos, Yes, but then who today doesn’t. The truth is not all officers are honest, we all know that, and they sure know how to cover their behind when they screw up. Other officers are there to back them up. If you don’t believe that then you are unwisely credulous (gullible). Racist I don’t know, but believe me I personally know police officers that hate blacks. Oh, not when they have a uniform on, just when they take it off. Racist because of tattoos, maybe because they do look like gang members. You don’t know Tony, and not all things are what they seem to be all the time. News people, you sound pretty ignorant when you make statement like “Maybe that is why they were there, to brake into cars” We all know that you must sell papers, but when you make statments off the top of your head with nothing to back you up, don’t you think you would look much wiser to just keep your mouth shut. I won’t buy your paper anymore because I know you are spitting out stupidities. Now I sit everyday and look at a lovely back yard that Tony will never again be there to play with his little sister and make her laugh and feel protected because he was such a loving caring brother. Tony will be sorely missed by those who know him. It is not fair what happened and I can only pray to my Lord that the truth will come out. This older white woman loved Tony deeply and I will miss him.

  5. Tony had problem issue…..drugs mess up his life. If you really knew him you whould know this was coming

  6. who dont have problem issues.but if u new him like u say you no he never ran from cops or fought with them.
    drugs do make u do dumb shit.maybe the cop was on drugs.couse there is no reason to kill a unarmed man.period..

  7. For Sue Ortiz-Hedrick, it amazes me that you can sit there and accuse people of being ignorant when you were not even there yourself. Do the world a favor and just keep your mouth shut when you do not know the facts.

  8. I just found out about my dear friend. we often lost contact due to phone number and residence changes but we always found each other. I never wanted to find him this way. Tony had a couple bad habits but if you knew tony you knew he was an exceptional and caring person. He always had something positive and inspiring to share. He has always had a special place in my heart and to his mother, Mary, I only met you once but as a mother myself my heart goes out to you, that is a loss no one can imagine

  9. funny how this wasn’t breaking news on tv but a school cop getting wounded is on all day

  10. Open your eyes people! Are you that ignorant! What the hell was Tony doing in a private property parking lot at 2am. What time of crime takes place when we are sleeping? How about breaking into cars… What type of people break into cars? People with drug problems obviously. Tonys own mother admitted that her son had only been released from jail a month prior to his death for a drug possession charge. Tony was out there looking to supplement his fix. Bottom line! Anyone in their right mind would have confronted Tony. That is why there is so much crime in this nation because nobody wants to get involved! Maybe if more people got involved, we would not have the crime that we do. Everyone can speculate what happened, but this deputy used deadly force because he feared for his life. Yes, people this deputy fears and he bleeds and he has feelings and loves god and can quote scriptures. Tony had a criminal record and is not an innocent victim that many of you make him out to be. You say you were Tonys friend but where the hell were you when he was looking for his next fix!

  11. Open your eyes people! Are you that ignorant! What the hell was Tony doing in a private property parking lot at 2am. What time of crime takes place when we are sleeping? How about breaking into cars… What type of people break into cars? People with drug problems obviously. Tonys own mother admitted that her son had only been released from jail a month prior to his death for a drug possession charge. Tony was out there looking to supplement his fix. Bottom line! Anyone in their right mind would have confronted Tony. That is why there is so much crime in this nation because nobody wants to get involved! Maybe if more people got involved, we would not have the crime that we do. Everyone can speculate what happened, but this deputy used deadly force because he feared for his life. Yes, people this deputy fears and he bleeds and he has feelings and loves god and can quote scriptures. Tony had a criminal record and is not an innocent victim that many of you make him out to be. You say you were Tonys friend but where the hell were you when he was looking for his next fix!

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