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Assistant on Comedy Central Show Killed by L.A. Deputies

Apr 11, 2014  •  Post A Comment

A production assistant on a Comedy Central show was mistaken for a stabbing suspect and fatally shot by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies. TheWrap.com reports that John Winkler, 30, a PA on “Tosh.0,” died following the shooting Monday night in West Hollywood.

The deputies had responded to a report of an assault by a man with a knife, described as a thin, white male in a black shirt, the story notes. As they searched an apartment building, a “door suddenly opened and a male victim came rushing out. He was covered in blood and bleeding profusely from the neck,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

Winkler followed the man, which made the deputies believe he was the attacker.

“Believing Winkler was the assailant and the assault was ongoing and he would attack the entry team; three deputies fired their duty weapons at him. Victim Winkler was struck by the gunfire and fell to the floor, and the male victim also collapsed, struck once by the gunfire,” the statement said.

Inside the apartment, the deputies found another male victim fighting with Alexander McDonald, who was later charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of torture, the story notes.

Charges haven’t been reported against the three deputies who were involved in the shooting. McDonald, who allegedly held Winkler and two other men captive at knifepoint, was described as a computer programmer without a history of violent behavior.

Comedy Central had no comment, the story notes.

john winkler.jpg

John Winkler

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