Video of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies pointing their guns at two Black teens, who say they were the victims of a knife attack in Santa Clarita has gone viral and an investigation of the incident is underway.
The video, posted by Tammi Collins, one of the boy's mothers, has garnered nearly 200,000 views on Instagram. It appears to show two deputies pointing their guns at the boys after a woman has called 911.
The woman, who identifies herself in the video as a manager at a nearby Buffalo Wild Wings, can be heard telling the officers that she was the one who placed the 911 call and "it was not them." She explains that the boys were the ones who were being chased by a homeless man with a knife.
"I told your sergeant who was the problem and what was going on," she says. "For you guys to act this way…"
One of the officers is seen holding his firearm and continuing to aim it at the boys while telling the bystanders to back up.
A post shared by Tammi Collins (@tammilaray) on Aug 8, 2020 at 1:17am PDT
Santa Clarita Mayor Cameron Smyth is asking for a review of the incident and is demanding the deputy involved to be removed until the investigation is over.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva on Monday released a video statement saying, "I have concerns regarding the tactics employed."
