Family of man found dead at home of Democratic donor calls for full investigation

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA (FOX 11) - The mother of a 26-year-old man found dead in the West Hollywood apartment of prominent Democratic donor Ed Buck last month is calling for a full investigation.

Gemmel Moore's death was initially ruled an accidental meth overdose, but homicide detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office are now conducting a probe.

Latisha Nixon, Moore's mother, flew out from Texas and spoke before the West Hollywood city council Monday night, where she called for justice, and pleaded with the council to put pressure on law enforcement.

"I'm asking for justice for my son regardless of whatever he did with the meth or whatever, he still was my son, he still was a person," Nixon said. "Ed Buck has been soliciting young gay black men, he hits them up with meth, the more meth that smoke and inject, the more money he gives them."

Buck's attorney denies those allegations, and tells FOX 11 his client was only good friends with Moore, did nothing wrong, and that he frequently offered help to young men who were often homeless.

But Nixon claims she has four witnesses ready to come forward and confirm the allegations against Buck.

"Some of the people have committed felonies and they're not going to come forward if they're not granted immunity," she said. "I'm requesting the city council to put pressure on the DA to offer them immunity."

Captain Sergio Loma with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office responded.

"Our homicide bureau is investigating this case thoroughly, but they can't move forward without witnesses coming forward and giving them information, as far as granting them immunity from any prior acts, that has to be evaluated and they cannot do that without persons coming forward and speaking to them," he said.

As FOX 11 previously reported, Moore allegedly wrote in his journal that Buck gave him his first crystal meth injection, and that he became addicted to the pain.

Exclusive surveillance images from Buck's apartment building the night Moore was found dead also reveal that another young man was trying to get up to Buck's apartment while deputies were still on scene, according to the building manager.

Buck has not been charged with any crime, nor has he been named as a suspect in Moore's death.

His attorney believes detectives are doing their due diligence, but that nothing will come of the investigation.

"I'm a very private person, Gemmel is a very private person," Nixon said. "So to bring the media in and all of the things my son was doing, it didn't make me proud. But I had to go forward, not just for my son, but for others. I couldn't save my son, it's too late for him, but we're gonna save some other people."

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