A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy mistakenly shot and killed Tosh.0 production assistant John Winkler as he fled an apartment where another man was holding two people hostage. Winkler had gone to the apartment Monday night in West Hollywood to help his friends, who were being kept in the residence against their will. The deputy shot him as he ran out of the apartment with one of the victims. "The apartment door suddenly opened and a male victim came rushing out," said a statement from the sheriff's department. "He was covered in blood and bleeding profusely from the neck. Simultaneously, victim Winkler ran out of the door, lunging at the back of the fleeing victim. Both ran directly at the deputies." Interim Sheriff John Scott said the incident was "very tragic." Devin Richardson, a friend of Winkler's said the man was trying to help two of his friends. "It's just a really sad story," Richardson said. "He basically went to help some neighbors and ends up getting shot." Winkler was transported to the hospital where he died. The man who had been holding the victims hostage was identified as Alexander McDonald. He was arrested and charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of torture.