Daniel Tosh only worked with John Winkler briefly, but the comedian called it a "privilege" in a statement posted to Twitter Friday, April 11.
"Only had the privilege of working with John Winkler for a short while," Tosh said of the temporary production assistant, who worked on Comedy Central's Tosh.0. "We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends."
Winkler, 30, was killed on Monday, April 7, after being mistakenly identified as a suspect and shot by L.A. County Sheriff's deputies.
The Los Angeles Times reported that there was a hostage situation within Winkler's West Hollywood apartment, when he got involved in an attempt to help his neighbor. Winkler managed to escape, but responders mistook him for the assailant. "Three deputies fired their duty weapons at him," the L.A. Sheriff's Department revealed in a statement.
"Taking the life of an innocent person is a police officer's greatest nightmare," Interim L.A. County Sheriff John Scott said during a news conference Thursday, April 10.
Winkler had moved to L.A. just six months prior to his death, to pursue his dreams of working in the entertainment field. He was reportedly studying at the Seattle Film School.
A statement released Friday by Comedy Central read, "Comedy Central and Tosh.0 extend their deepest condolences to the family of John Winkler. We only had the privilege of working with him for a short while and extend heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends during this tragic time."
The current suspect in the hostage situation is in police custody being held on $4 million bail.
