Death of Man Shot by Deputy Examined

The cause of death of a 50-year-old Thousand Oaks man who died Wednesday morning--almost seven weeks after he was shot by a sheriff’s deputy--remains undetermined, pending laboratory tests, authorities said Thursday.

Walter Francis Brazenor, who was married and the father of two daughters ages 13 and 14, died at his home.

He was released last week from Los Robles Regional Medical Center, where he had been treated for four bullet wounds suffered in a Feb. 7 altercation with Sheriff’s Deputy Victor Fazio. Authorities said the 24-year-old deputy shot Brazenor because he was armed with two long knives and had allegedly moved threateningly toward three officers.

Investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department had said they planned to arrest the retired Southern California Edison employee for assault, but never did so, said Jenny Scovis, Brazenor’s longtime family lawyer.

Deputy Coroner James Baroni said the results are pending from tests on blood and tissue samples.

“This is a complicated case,” he said. “We need to look at things microscopically.”

But Scovis said the family believes the shooting led to Brazenor’s death.

“The family believes that a bullet wound infection is what killed him,” said Scovis, declining to comment on whether the family planned any legal action. “He was a good citizen and a good father. This is a terrible tragedy both for his wife and children.”