The Los Angeles Police Department released an autopsy on Monday revealing that a mentally ill black man killed by LAPD officers in August was shot three times, including once in the back, according to television station KABC.
The autopsy stated that the shot to Ezell Ford’s back and another to his abdomen were fatal, according to the TV station. The wound on his back revealed a muzzle imprint from the gun, suggesting the shot was fired at close range, the station reported.
Several witnesses said Ford was face down on the ground when he was shot, the station reported. But police said he was killed while resisting arrest and had “grabbed the officer’s handgun and attempted to remove the gun from its holster.”
“The officer yelled out to his partner that Mr. Ford had his gun. The officer’s partner then fired two rounds striking Mr. Ford,” the LAPD said in a statement, as quoted by KABC. “At about the same time, the officer on the ground while on his back grabbed his backup weapon, reached around Mr. Ford and fired one shot at close range striking Mr. Ford in the back.”
The Ford family’s lawyer called it an execution.
“I dare say that this is criminal, I think they executed this poor young man, mentally incompetent man,” said attorney Steven Lerman, according to the news station.
Ed. note: This post has been updated to clarify that there is a dispute about whether Ford had grabbed the officer’s gun.
Of course.
I’m sure the cop will be brought to justice. I also believe in the tooth fairy and the virgin birth.
There hasn’t been one day ever in which the LAPD and LA County Sheriff hasn’t acted like murderers towards persons of color. How the fuck can we tell what happened with that kind of track record?
In Greenville, SC on Christmas Eve an autustic man (large and black) was chased down and tased before being arrested all while his mother yelled at police that he was autistic. Charges have been dropped. How do you arrest and charge an autistic man who ran from you out of fear and then was electrocuted? The guy is clearly disabled.
The new chief of police said he’s going to have the man’s record expunged and has submitted assault charges to the state authority for an investigation.
Training for dealing with the disabled does not exist for most police. These are your cops America. They’re doing what you allowed/wanted them to do since your god Reagan kicked the mentally impaired to the curb literally. Once out of care they’re shoveled into the prison industrial complex.
Shitcan all these cops and start over.
Providing one of them says " S/he’s going for your gun " they can then shoot to kill .
Wonder why the LAPD fought the release of the autopsy report for so long?