Coroner Walks Back Early 'Suicide' Ruling in Palmdale Man's Death - SCVNews.com

Authored by scvnews.com and submitted by javi2591

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner has withdrawn an initial preliminary assessment of suicide as the cause of Robert L. Fuller’s death in Palmdale, and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra will monitor the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation into Fuller’s death.

LASD Sheriff Alex Villanueva made the announcements in a press conference late Monday morning, flanked by Captain Kent Wegener and Lieutenant Brandon Dean of the department’s Homicide Bureau and L.A. County Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby.

The body of Fuller, a 24-year-old African American man, was found hanging from a tree in the 38300 block of 9th Street East in Palmdale at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger sent a letter to Becerra on Saturday requesting his intercession in the case.

“Today, I asked California State Attorney General Xavier Becerra to conduct an independent investigation into the death of Mr. Robert Fuller, who was discovered hanging from a tree in the City of Palmdale,” Barger said in a statement. “The Attorney General, as the lead attorney and law enforcement official for the State of California, will lend additional expertise and oversight into this important investigation and provide the community with the answers they deserve.

“It is my hope, that our collective efforts will help to support those struggling and grieving surrounding the circumstances of this tragedy,” Barger said.

“I take my commitment to transparency very seriously,” Villanueva tweeted Sunday afternoon. “As such, I want to thank Attorney General Xavier Becerra @AGBecerra for agreeing to monitor our investigation into the death of Robert Fuller.”

City of Palmdale officials released a statement Monday afternoon, after Villanueva’s Monday press conference:

“Following today’s press conference by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, the City of Palmdale is gratified that the L.A. County Coroner’s office has withdrawn their initial preliminary assessment of death by suicide as the cause of Robert Fuller’s death.

“We are also encouraged by the Sheriff Department’s commitment to a clear and transparent process in the investigation of the June 10, 2020 death of Robert Fuller.”

Fuller’s family and Angel Magee, his youngest sister, established a GoFundMe account on his behalf on Friday.

“Words can’t describe how my family is feeling. We grew up there in the Antelope Valley, we have so many friends, families that loved Robert,” Magee wrote. “Please help with whatever you can. We greatly appreciate everyone. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time.”

As of Monday afternoon, donations amounted to $213,127.

eddyboomtron on June 16th, 2020 at 15:10 UTC »

"Southern trees bear a strange fruit Blood on the leaves and blood at the root

Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant South The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth

Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck

For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop Here is a strange and bitter crop "

its0matt on June 16th, 2020 at 14:27 UTC »

It seems like he withdrew his initial assessment to help remove any doubt by having an independent investigation

BigFNGuns on June 16th, 2020 at 12:36 UTC »

4 men have been found hanging from trees in America in the past 17 days. 2 in California, 1 in New York, and 1 in Texas. 3 confirmed black. The latest, found yesterday, has not had his identity released.

I wonder if the realization that a string of hangings has occurred is what made the coroner to recount their ruling?

Edit: I’m adding this because too many of you are assuming that I’m implying that these were murders. I never said that nor have I insinuated I believed that. My concerns on the trends are more about whether or not they were ruled on so quickly and carelessly without full autopsies because these men are black. I feel a full autopsy should’ve been done since day one for all these men. I also feel a ruling shouldn’t have been given until AFTER a FULL autopsy, toxicology and investigative report was performed by both the police and coroner. These rulings were given a few hours after the bodies were found and reported to news outlets.

Edit 2: a lot of you are focused on the fact that I noted their race. With everything that is happening globally, yes, I’d say their race is important when determining if a ruling should be given so soon(literally a few hours) after finding their bodies. It’s careless on the part of police and coroners to give a public ruling so soon without performing a full autopsy on the BLACK men who were PUBLICLY HANGED during the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement. This should be delved into and carried out with more diligence and care. I hope that they weren’t overlooked for a FULL investigation because of their race.