Homicide detectives to probe death of man at West Hollywood home of prominent Democratic donor

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA (FOX 11) - Citing new concerns and an abundance of caution, homicide detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office will conduct a probe into the death of a 26-year-old man at the West Hollywood home of prominent Democratic donor Ed Buck last month.

Gemmel Moore, an alleged sex worker, was found dead inside Bucks apartment in the 1200 block of Laurel on July 27.

Initially, detectives and the coroner determined his death to be an accidental overdose of meth, but detectives will be taking a deeper look after his family pushed for an investigation.

"I'm calling out the West Hollywood sheriffs department to please launch a thorough investigation into the supposed accidental death of my son," said Latisha Nixon, Moore's mother. "It seems like everyone is turning a blind eye because my son was a gay black man, Ed Buck is a wealthy white politician who has contributed a lot of money to the different campaigns and different funds."

"I think that only a white man could get away with having a dead black body in his house, and explain it away to the police and have them say okay case closed," said Jasmyne Cannick, a community activist who has been in touch with Moore's family,

She told FOX 11 that the family provided her with what they say is Moore's journal. She provided pages of it to FOX 11.

"He details how Ed Buck, according to him, hooked him on crystal meth," she said.

In one passage, Moore allegedly wrote that Buck injected him with crystal meth for the first time, that it hurt, but that he was becoming addicted to the pain.

In another one, he wrote "If it didn't hurt so bad, I'd kill myself, but I'll let Ed Buck do it for now."

FOX 11 stopped by Buck's residence on Tuesday, and received no response upon calling his apartment.

However, a building manager did provide FOX 11 with surveillance images from the evening that Moore died.

Buck's attorney, Seymour Amster, told FOX 11 his client has done nothing wrong, and that he only tries to help people.

Amster said Moore's journal is full of unverified statements, and that he and his client categorically deny them.

He described Buck's relationship with Moore as "good friends", and said Buck is a kindhearted man who reaches out to troubled youth who are often homeless.

Amster said he believes the new probe by detectives is just law enforcement being responsible, and that nothing will come of the investigation.

Buck has not been charged with any crime, nor has he been named as a suspect in the case.