For the second time in two years, a Black man has been found dead in the home of a prominent political donor, Edward Buck, renewing scrutiny.
According to CNN, police are conducting an investigation into the unidentified victim’s death, as well as going through a secondary review along with follow-up interviews into the first, 2017 death. Buck, 64, was present at the time of both deaths.
Deputies were called to Buck’s home at 1:05 a.m. in response to a person not breathing. The man was pronounced dead by emergency responders upon their arrival. The cause of death remains unknown and will be determined by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
The incident renewed suspicions and scrutiny about the July 2017 death of 26-year-old Gemmel Moore, who died of what ultimately was ruled as an accidental methamphetamine overdose in Buck’s apartment. Buck was not charged in Moore’s death, as the admissible evidence provided was unable to prove that Buck was responsible for Moore’s death or that he provided drugs to Moore or possessed drugs himself.
Buck’s lawyer, Seymour Amster, painted a picture of his client only helping “associates” who struggled with drugs.
“Yes, Ed does have individuals he associates with who have problems with drugs. He tries to talk them out of it. Sometimes they bring their problems into his apartment, and that’s where the problem is,” Amster said.
Monday’s death prompted renewed cries for justice in Moore’s death, with a group of protesters demonstrating outside Buck’s apartment, the New York Times reports.
LaTisha Nixon, Moore’s mother, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday that Buck “must be convicted” in the deaths of the two men.
“He will not stop,” she wrote. “He will continue to hurt and kill black men. There are 2 people now that have lost their lives..#justice4gemmel”
My son journal was found after he was killed this is what he said. I had no idea my baby was dealing with so much hurt…
She shared entries from a journal that was found in her son’s possessions, which noted, “I’ve become addicted to drugs and the worst one at that. Ed Buck is the one to thank. He gave me my first injection of crystal meth…”
Another excerpt read, “If it didn’t hurt so bad I’d kill myself but I’ll let Ed Buck do it for now.”
