It’s with a heavy heart that I’m sharing the tragic news that Dane Brown, the man who survived an overdose in Democratic donor Ed Buck’s West Hollywood apartment back in 2019, was found dead on a sidewalk in South LA last week.
This news hits hard. His civil case against Buck was set for trial in February. Dane was only 43—he died just four days after his birthday. I got to know him well after that horrible ordeal. When the media moved on and he was no longer in the spotlight, he was still here in Los Angeles, a Black man fighting to rebuild his life. He faced a lot of challenges, and I’ll never forget how our community showed up for him, ensuring he had funds for emergency housing right after Buck’s arrest.
I have so many good memories with Dane. From the day he proudly showed me his new apartment to the night he insisted on taking me out to Bludso’s BBQ to say thank you after he’d gotten a job. I didn’t want him spending his money on me, but I could see how much it mattered to him, so I let him.
Dane loved his video games, his tech, and he had a real talent for cooking. He was incredibly smart and had a quick wit that kept me laughing.
And I’ll say this—without Dane’s bravery, I don’t know if Ed Buck would have ever been arrested or prosecuted. Dane’s survival and his decision to come forward shone a light on the horrors that had been happening in silence.
Dane’s death is part of the unseen, untalked-about consequences of Ed Buck’s actions—consequences that don’t end just because Buck is behind bars. No one should be found dead on a sidewalk, and Dane didn’t deserve that ending.
I will let you know if Dane’s family sets up a GoFundMe to assist in his final expenses and details on his service if his family says it’s ok.
For now, can we all say a prayer for Dane, his family and friends?
For me, the toll from Ed Buck’s actions stands at four lives now—Gemmel Moore, Timothy Dean, Star, and now Dane.
--Jasmyne Cannick
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