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Family Of Man Fatally Shot By LA County Sheriff's Department Files Damages Claim

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com)   —   The family of a man who was fatally shot by deputies  in Paramount after reports of a fight in October   filed a claim for damages against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

His family said Oscar Alberto Ramirez, 28, had no history of gun violence or weapons ownership.

CBS2's Amy Johnson attended the news conference at which the grieving man's family member said they wanted answers.

"Why?" said Oscar Ramirez Sr. about his youngest son. "Why? Why they kill my son? ... Nobody has an answer."

Just around 2:40 Oct. 27, deputies said they received information that a fight was brewing outside Paramount Senior High School and that one of the combatants had a handgun.

"Oscar was shot four times in the back coming from behind," said Ramirez family attorney Ron Kaye, "and one time in the side."

The deputy radioed a description of the suspects to other deputies searching the area. A responding deputy saw individuals who matched the descriptions of the alleged fighters when the deputy-involved shooting took place.

"He saw a possible fight occurring," said Kristian Ramirez, Oscar's brother, "and they stopped the fight from occurring. That's when police were called. That's where everything becomes a blur to us."

The family attorney filed the claim and said he's not satisfied with the deputy version of events.

"Almost two months have passed," said Kaye, "and the Sheriff's Department of the County of Los Angeles has blocked and ordered the Coroner's Office to not provide the family with the autopsy."

Johnson said the Sheriff's Department made the following statement:

"All the facts and information will come to light during the course of the litigation. The case is still ongoing, and the security hold on the autopsy will be lifted once the DA's Office has received the case," said Nichole Nishida, a sheriff's spokeswoman.

For now, said Johnson, all the family can do is cling to the gifts, cards and letters he wrote to them.

"I miss him. I miss him every day," said Ramirez Sr.

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