Immunity Granted to Possible Witnesses in Drug Death Investigation

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has granted immunity from prosecution to several men for assistance in the investigation of the drug-related death of a young man in the home of a gay political activist in West Hollywood, news website Wehoville reports.

Gemmel Moore, 26, of Texas, died July 27 of a methamphetamine overdose at the home of Ed Buck, a major Democratic Party donor and member of the Stonewall Democratic Club's political action committee.

Buck has not been charged with any crime, but some activists have accused him of forcibly injecting young men, particularly young black men, with drugs. Moore's mother, LaTisha Nixon, claimed Buck had done this to her son.

Nixon appeared before the West Hollywood City Council in August to ask that council members press District Attorney Jackie Lacey to grant immunity to people willing to provide information about their interactions with Buck, Wehoville reports. Some of them had used illegal drugs or done sex work, which would make them unlikely to come forward without immunity.

"We are pleased that the district attorney has finally provided a binding written agreement of immunity," attorney and legal consultant Nana Gyamfi told Wehoville.