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Authorities confirmed that John Winkler was one of three hostages inside a West Hollywood apartment during the stadoff. The victim had gone into the apartment to help the other hostages after hearing screaming coming from the residence.
Officials said in a statement the three deputies on the scene saw one of the other hostages bolt out of the residence as they arrived.
"He was covered in blood and bleeding profusely from the neck," the statement read. "Simultaneously, Winkler ran out of the door, lunging at the back of the fleeing victim. Both ran directly at the deputies."
Interim Sheriff John Scott told the Times Winkler's description matched that of the suspect, identified by KTLA-TV as 27-year-old Alexander McDonald.
Winkler was shot three times in the chest and died at a local hospital. The other hostage was listed in stable condition after suffering stab wounds to the back and a gunshot wound to the leg.
"It's just a really sad story," Winkler's friend and roommate, Devin Richardson, told the Times. "He basically went to help some neighbors and ends up getting shot."
KTLA reported that after the shooting, deputies found McDonald choking the other hostage inside and "tearing at his face." He was apprehended and is being held on a $4 million bond on charges of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of torture.
The comment from his friend is surprising to say it mildly: "It's just a really sad story",Winkler's friend and roommate, Devin Richardson, told the Times.
Hello anybody home? It is outrageous, criminal, unbelievable and another proof that the US is a fascist police state, where the constitution is considered just a shitty piece of paper! Shoot to kill first and ask questions later and a good guy is a dead guy. This is standard operating procedure these days in the US and people just think it is sad, instead of being outraged and on the streets in millions.
Either this is just another sign of normalcy bias kicking in or the news paper chose to sanitize the statements given by the friend and roommate. I hope it is the latter, but I doubt it somehow.