(L.A.) David Ordaz Jr., 34, Died in a Hospital

Case Number: 2021-04048

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 34-year-old Hispanic male that occurred in a hospital.

The coroner’s office identified the man as David Ordaz Jr, resident of North Rowan Avenue in the 90063.

Manner of Death: Homicide

Cause of Death: Multiple Gunshot Wounds

RIP DAVID ORDAZ JR. (March 24, 1986 – March 14, 2021)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Sunday at 2:39 p.m.

The decedent suffered about 12 gunshot wounds fired by at least four sheriff’s deputies. He was taken to LAC/USC Medical Center on Marengo Street, where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to his sister, the two of them were inside a parked vehicle in front of their shared residence when he told her he wanted to die via suicide by cop. She called 9-1-1. Sheriff’s deputies found Ordaz pacing the street while holding a knife. He was instructed to drop the knife multiple times and when he did not, he was struck with bean-bag rounds. He then reportedly “lunged” at the deputies with knife in hand, prompting four of them to open fire.

Incident location: 166 North Rowan Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90063

In November 2024, LASD deputy Remin Pineda pleaded no contest to two felony assault charges stemming from the shooting death. He was sentenced to two years’ probation, ordered to perform 250 hours of community service and undergo one year of psychological counseling, give up his certification as a peace officer and write an apology to the family of David Ordaz Jr. as a result of his plea to one count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and assault by a public officer.

“…the coroners report shows that all of the bullets except two, struck him on the back and on the side and the final bullet as visualized in the video shows a helpless David Ordaz Jr. looking up from the pavement without any weapon, and the kill shot was fired into his chest…”

The victim’s father, David Ordaz Sr., said through a Spanish interpreter that he didn’t think Pineda’s plea deal was fair.

“I would like him to spend some time in jail,” he said, noting that his son had left “three children without a dad.”

His daughter, who was 15 when her father was killed, said, “I’m just disappointed — not that I had much hope in the justice system to begin with. Now all that I had is completely gone.”

Emily Ordaz said she didn’t believe that a “split-second decision was made” and thinks Pineda saw that her father was having a mental health crisis and “took that opportunity to kill.”

Pineda has been relieved of duty since July 13, 2021, without pay. He is expected to resign or be let go from the department.