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Ezell Ford shot in back by LA police - coroner | Ezell Ford shot in back by LA police - coroner |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 25-year-old black man killed by police in Los Angeles was shot three times, including in the back at close range, a post-mortem report has found. | A 25-year-old black man killed by police in Los Angeles was shot three times, including in the back at close range, a post-mortem report has found. |
Ezell Ford was killed in August after a struggle in which police say he tried to grab an officer's gun. | Ezell Ford was killed in August after a struggle in which police say he tried to grab an officer's gun. |
He was hit in his right side, right arm and back, where a muzzle imprint was found with the wound, the report says. | He was hit in his right side, right arm and back, where a muzzle imprint was found with the wound, the report says. |
The findings come after a string of police shootings of black men generated protests nationwide. | The findings come after a string of police shootings of black men generated protests nationwide. |
Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, were killed by on-duty police officers who were later not charged over the deaths, sparking nationwide protests over perceived police injustices. | Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, were killed by on-duty police officers who were later not charged over the deaths, sparking nationwide protests over perceived police injustices. |
Many demonstrators in Los Angeles invoked the case of Ezell Ford. | Many demonstrators in Los Angeles invoked the case of Ezell Ford. |
Appeal for witnesses | Appeal for witnesses |
LA's police chief, Charlie Beck, said the report backed officer accounts but he appealed for more witnesses. | LA's police chief, Charlie Beck, said the report backed officer accounts but he appealed for more witnesses. |
"We will find out the truth about what happened that August night but we need the public's help," he told a press conference. | "We will find out the truth about what happened that August night but we need the public's help," he told a press conference. |
According to Mr Beck, police officers reported that Mr Ford had attracted their attention with suspicious actions before knocking one officer to the ground. | |
Mr Ford was on top of an officer and grappling for the officer's holstered weapon when another officer fired two shots and the struggling officer pulled out a back-up gun and shot Mr Ford in the back, Mr Beck said on Monday, reading out an account of the incident. | |
Mr Ford's parents have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in which they assert that police knew their son had a mental illness. | Mr Ford's parents have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in which they assert that police knew their son had a mental illness. |
The coroner's report was not made public for months because police said they did not want witnesses to be influenced before they had given statements. | The coroner's report was not made public for months because police said they did not want witnesses to be influenced before they had given statements. |
But with residents in South LA calling for more transparency, the city's mayor, Eric Garcetti, last month urged the police to allow the release of the coroner's findings. | But with residents in South LA calling for more transparency, the city's mayor, Eric Garcetti, last month urged the police to allow the release of the coroner's findings. |
Last week attention turned to the safety of police officers after two were killed sitting in their patrol cars in New York, by a gunman who cited the Garner and Brown cases before carrying out the attack. | Last week attention turned to the safety of police officers after two were killed sitting in their patrol cars in New York, by a gunman who cited the Garner and Brown cases before carrying out the attack. |
Police were also attacked in LA on Sunday night but no one was hurt. A man is under arrest. | Police were also attacked in LA on Sunday night but no one was hurt. A man is under arrest. |
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