$5-million settlement for family of hostage deputies killed by mistake

Source: Los Angeles Times

$5-million settlement for family of hostage deputies killed by mistake
By Matt Hamilton contact the reporter
August 4, 2015, 10:08 PM

Los Angeles County supervisors on Tuesday approved a $5-million settlement with the family of an aspiring TV producer who was held hostage in a West Hollywood apartment before sheriff's deputies mistook him for an armed suspect and killed him.

John Winkler, 30, was fatally shot in the chest when he ran out of the apartment April 7, 2014, and came into the line of fire of three sheriff's deputies, authorities said.

Winkler was with two friends at the Palm Avenue apartment when one of the men's roommates, Alexander McDonald, 28, pulled a knife on them, a witness testified in court last year.

Another hostage, Liam Mulligan, testified last year that McDonald had made a deadly vow: "'You guys are going to die tonight.'"


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0805-shooting-settlement-20150805-story.html