Second Black Man Found Dead In Democratic Fundraiser Ed Buck’s California Home in 18 Months

Early Monday morning, a man’s body was found inside the West Hollywood home of Democratic fundraiser, Ed Buck, for the second time in the last year and a half. 

According to NBC News, officials responded to a report of a person not breathing inside Buck’s Laurel Avenue apartment complex around 4 a.m. ET. Upon arrival, officials pronounced the man dead at the scene, but the cause of death was not immediately known. 

Though the identity of the victim has not been released, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department said he was black, which sparked a cause for concern on Buck’s part as he was previously investigated for the 2017 overdose of Gemmel Moore, who was also black. However, prosecutors declined to file charges in the incident over lack of evidence. Buck was cleared in July 2017. 

Though Buck has not been arrested in the most recent incident, he is, however, cooperating with police, as he was present for both incidents. Officials say they will conduct a thorough investigation into the recent death and will do “follow up interviews and a secondary review” of Moore’s passing.

In the meantime, Buck’s attorney says the man was a “longtime friend,” who “began exhibiting bizarre behavior” after he’d asked to come over. 

“Ed was reluctant, but the friend was insistent, so Ed allowed the friend to come over,” Seymour Amster said. Shortly after, the man “began exhibiting bizarre behavior,” so Buck phoned officials and attempted CPR. But, he was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene.