The body of an unidentified Black man was found at the West Hollywood apartment of Ed Buck, a prominent Democratic donor, on Monday. According to Fox News, the man’s death comes 17 months after Gemmel Moore, a Black male escort, was found dead in the same apartment.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Charles Moore said the victim was found at 1:05 a.m. PT after someone called 911. The Homicide Bureau is investigating, and the cause of death remains unknown.
Buck, a White man in his 60s, was investigated after Moore died of a methamphetamine overdose in his home in July 2017. The escort’s death was classified as an accidental overdose until journal entries implicated Buck in his drug usage.
“I’ve become addicted to drugs and the worst one at that. Ed Buck is the one to thank,” Moore wrote in December 2016.
Since then, numerous young Black men have alleged that Buck shoots drugs into the men he meets on dating sites or picks up.
In the wake of the second death, protesters have gathered outside of the California apartment. Activist Jasmyne Cannick yelled to the crowd, “Arrest Ed Buck, prosecute Ed Buck, and then a jury needs to convict Ed Buck.”
Cannick continued, “This man has had two dead bodies in his house, and he is still in his house.”
One of Buck’s neighbors told KTLA that she saw the unidentified man enter the home close to midnight. She woke up “to find out that he didn’t come out.”
Many other people in Buck’s neighborhood report that they have the same concerns as the protesters.
The Los Angeles LGBT Center released a statement urging police to investigate both deaths.
“The reports we have heard provide more questions than answers. The fact is two black men have died at Mr. Buck’s home in less than two years,” the statement said. “Fully investigate this tragedy and aggressively seek justice wherever the investigation might lead.”
According to Seymour Amster, the political donor’s attorney, the victim was a “longtime friend” who “reached out for [Buck’s] help” on Sunday night.”
Amster claimed the Black man was starting to act “bizarre” once he got to the apartment. “As far as we’re concerned, this is an accidental death,” he told Fox News.
Buck was not arrested, and authorities have released the scene.
After news of the second death broke, six Democrats in California and Arizona returned or redirected donations from Buck. Within past years, he has donated more than $500,000 to liberal groups and candidates including former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
