Inquest into man killed by police gunfire in Willowbrook underway Published article LOS ANGELES - A coroner's inquest began Jan. 28 into the death of Fred Williams III, who was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy in October, but the hearing was adjourned for the day when two deputies involved in the case declined to testify, claiming Fifth Amendment protections and two homicide detectives declined to testify, citing concerns about compromising their ongoing investigations. The inquest, which began about 9 a.m. Thursday, was being conducted by retired California Court of Appeals Justice Candace D. Cooper, who also conducted the November inquest into the death of 18-year-old Andres Guardado, who was fatally shot by a deputy near Gardena. That inquest was the first in Los Angeles County in more than 30 years.