Video of deadly deputy-involved shooting in Willowbrook released

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11) - The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department released video Thursday morning of the deadly deputy-involved shooting of a 24-year-old man in Willowbrook who used his vehicle as a weapon against deputies.

Ryan Twyman of Los Angeles was under investigation for felony weapons violations at the time of the shooting, according to sheriff's Cmdr. April Tardy.

Two deputies who were searching for Twyman went to an apartment complex in the 13100 block of South San Pedro Street about 7:30 p.m. June 6, where they located Twyman in the driver's seat of a Kia Forte and another man in the passenger seat of the car parked in the south parking lot of the complex, Tardy said.

Security video shows the deputies approaching the car with weapons drawn and one deputy opened the rear passenger side door and attempted to talk with Twyman, who started car's engine and put it in reverse, Tardy said.

The other deputy moved in and tried to open the driver's side door at which time Twyman reversed the Kia back and to the right toward the deputy on the passenger side, striking that deputy and briefly knocking him off-balance, she said.

"At that time, both deputies fired their service pistols at Mr. Twyman in order to stop him from seriously injuring the deputy'' on the passenger side of the vehicle, Tardy said.

The Kia continued in reverse in a looping turn as deputies fired in the direction of Twyman. One deputy then ran back to the patrol vehicle and retrieved a rifle from the trunk, Tardy said.

Both deputies appeared to fire additional shots in the direction of the car, which continued in reverse until it hit a metal post in the parking lot, she said.

The deputies took cover behind a pickup truck in the parking lot and fired additional shots. A total of 34 shots were fired. Twyman was struck in the upper body and pronounced dead at the scene, Tardy said.

The passenger was not hurt and was later interviewed and released, she said.

Twyman was previously convicted for felony weapons charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and was on felony probation at the time of the shooting, Tardy said.

Attorney Brian Dunn told the Los Angeles Times that he plans to file a claim against the department on behalf of Twyman's family.

"There are no circumstances that would justify shooting into a car unless there is an active gunfight going on,'' Dunn told the newspaper.

Dunn said Twyman was unarmed. The original statement issued by the sheriff's department did not mention a weapon or the lack of one.

"The deputies involved in the shooting are assigned to administrative duties pending outcome of the investigation,'' Tardy said. Neither deputy was hurt.

"When a deputy-involved shooting occurs multiple independent investigations immediately begin at the scene, including an investigation by the county District Attorney's Office. Public safety of all Los Angeles County residents remains the department's number one priority,'' the statement said.

Previously, community activist Najee Ali, a representative of the Los Angeles branch of the NAACP, said Twyman, a father of three, "was not a gang member, was not a criminal, and if he was, we would have heard.''

CNS contributed to this report.