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Ventura Saenz, 19

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Ventura Saenz, a 19-year-old Latino young man, was shot in the face by a sheriff’s deputy near the intersection of Pixley Avenue and Muriel Avenue in Compton; he died at 1:58 a.m. Saturday, May 12.

Saenz died in an exchange of gunfire, according to the Sheriff’s Department’s account. The deputy pulled over Saenz , who was driving a pickup, on suspicion of making an illegal U-turn. Saenz stopped the pickup, then sped off when the deputy approached. The deputy got back in his patrol car and stopped him again.

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Saenz reportedly did not obey orders to get out of the pickup, and fired a gun at the deputy, missing him. The deputy fired back and hit him. Saenz was transported to a hospital, where he died. A passenger in the pickup truck, an 18-year-old Latino man, was taken into custody. It was the fourth killing by a law-enforcement officer in four days.

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