The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Monday responded to the Hollywood home of Democratic mega donor Edward Buck where a man was found dead. This is the second time in 18 months someone died at Buck's home, KTLA-TV reported. When emergency medical services responded to the scene, they found the man to be unresponsive. They tried reviving him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another man, 26-year-old Gemmel Moore, was found dead in Buck's home in July 2017 but was ultimately deemed an accident. No charges were filed against Buck because the case lacked any kind of substantial evidence.
Because of the suspicious nature of another person dying in Buck's home, LASD is reopening Buck's case and taking a second look.
"It is suspicious that this has happened twice now so we're going to conduct a thorough investigation to determine if it is criminal in nature," Lt. Derrick Alfred told KTLA.
According to Buck's attorney, his client and the man had been friends for 25 years. When the man arrived at Buck's house he allegedly "had already been partying ... and already taken some substances." The attorney also said Buck was in the shower during some of the time the man was at his house.
Buck is also being accused of being let off the hook because of his political ties and donations.
"He gives money to (L.A. Mayor) Eric Garcetti, he's given money to (L.A. County District Attorney) Jackie Lacey, he's given money to (former U.S. Senate candidate and state Sen.) Kevin de Léon, he has given money to Gavin Newsom, our new governor," Democratic strategic Jasmyne Cannick said. "He spreads his money around to get access and influence into these powerful circles."
Similar accusations were made against Buck when Moore died back in 2017.
Moore's mother, Latisha Nixon, said Buck allegedly solicits "young gay black men" and makes them take a dangerous amount of drugs.
"He [Buck] has them wear these long white ‘under-johns.’ He takes pictures of them,"Nixon said. "He hits them up with meth. The more meth that they smoke and inject, the more money that he gives them."
Buck's attorney insists the latest death was an accident.
"As far as we're concerned, this is an accidental death," Attorney Seymour Amster said, Fox News reported.
Protestors eventually showed up outside of Buck's home once it was evident that he wasn't going to be arrested:
Protesters gathering to call for the prosecution of prominent Democratic donor Ed Buck after two men separately die inside of his #WestHollywood apartment in less than two two years. One was a meth overdose. Protesters meeting in front of his building on Laurel Ave. @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/B0r4BCFtFP
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) January 8, 2019
"Arrest Ed Buck, prosecute Ed Buck, and then a jury needs to convict Ed Buck," Cannick told the crowd. "This man has had two dead bodies in his house, and he is still in his house."
Buck is well known for supporting LBGT causes and has spent $53,000 supporting Democratic candidates, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Krysten Sinema, The Hill reported.