A petition has been signed by over 30,000 people in the hopes to force police authorities to charge Ed Buck in relation to the deaths of two men. 55 year-old Timothy Dean was found dead in Buck’s apartment six weeks ago, while then 26 year-old Gemmel Moore was found dead in the same apartment in West Hollywood, US, in July 2017. 

An autopsy ruled that Moore died from a crystal meth overdose. A journal attributed to him said he blamed Ed Buck for getting him addicted to the drug. At the time, investigative journalist, Jasmyne Cannick, spoke to many men who said Buck was interested in paying black men for sex and would also offer more money if they would allow him to inject them with crystal meth – a process known as ‘slamming’. On social media, she warned others were likely to die. Authorities made no move to charge Buck, then this year, Dean died in allegedly similar circumstances.

Buck is well known as a high profile political donor to the Democratic Party and a political activist. Some suggested the fact that Buck is a wealthy white businessman while the men who died were poorer black men has affected how the case has been treated.

The petition, which has since been handed over to the authorities, reads: “It’s time…to prosecute Ed Buck for the murders of both Timothy Dean and Gemmel Moore. No other black men should have to die before the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney take action.”

At a press conference held by the activists who started the petition, city council member Lindsey Horvath told those assembled: “I am tired of making statements and holding press conferences, we want action and we want it now. It is essential that the Los Angeles County sheriff’s department conduct a proper and thorough investigation of all facts of this case.”

LaTisha Nixon, the mother of Moore, said: “I thought long and hard before I came forward because I didn’t want any more mothers, any more families, to have to be without their loved ones.”

The case is ongoing.