Undated web photo shows 24-year-old African American Robert Fuller in jubilant mood. (Xinhua)

The Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner's office initially called the death a suicide. Fuller's family and civic leaders quickly pushed back, insisting that it be investigated as a homicide and demanding an independent probe and autopsy. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger also requested that California Attorney General Xavier Becerra conduct an independent investigation into Fuller's death, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Fuller is the second African American man whose body was found hanging in a tree in Southern California in less than two weeks.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said the investigation into the death of Malcolm Harsch, 38, is ongoing, reported the newspaper.