(L.A.) Anton Byrd, 40, Ended His Life During a Traffic Stop

Case Number: 2023-05429

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 40-year-old Black male that occurred in a hospital.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Anton Byrd of Lithonia, Georgia.

Manner of Death: Suicide

Cause of Death: Gunshot Wound of Head

RIP ANTON HAYES BYRD (August 10, 1982 – May 12, 2023)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Friday at 11:33 p.m.

Ruling by the deputy medical examiner was published on August 20, presumably after the results of tox screening came back.

LAPD has stated that the decedent was fatally shot by his own handgun during a traffic stop.

The shooting was reported at 11:04 p.m. on Central Avenue at 74th Street in South Los Angeles.

A Newton Division patrol hog made the stop.

The official news release explained the officers initiated the stop due to a Vehicle Code violation.

“As the driver exited the vehicle, he armed himself with a black, semi-automatic handgun,” the release said. “One of the officers attempted to restrain the driver, who attempted to escape the officer’s hold, lunging himself forward.

“During the brief struggle the driver discharged his handgun and sustained a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to his neck and immediately fell to the ground. Officers moved the handgun away from the driver and handcuffed him.”

An ambulance responded to the scene and transported the driver to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a single-spent 9mm casing were recovered by pigs at the scene.

No porkers were injured.

This could have been ruled as an accident or a suicide by the medical examiner; it was ruled a suicide three months after the incidence. LAPD has referred to this as an ICD or in-custody death.