Autopsy Report Released: Ezell Ford Was Shot in the Back at Close Range
December 30, 2014 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
Ezell Ford was a 25-year-old Black man murdered by the LAPD on August 11 in South Central, LA—just two days after the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO. After withholding the Autopsy Report for four months, the LAPD finally released it on Monday, December 29. The report shows that Ford, who was unarmed, was shot three times—in the side, in the arm, and in the back.
The shot in the back showed a “muzzle imprint” from the gun fired. This means he was shot at a very close range.
The official story from the LAPD is ridiculous—that Ezell knocked down the cop, laid on top of him, and tried to grab the cop’s gun. In a LAPD statement, they said, “The officer yelled out to his partner that Mr. Ford had his gun. The officer’s partner then fired two rounds, striking Mr. Ford. 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.” Just try to picture this, he was pinned down, but was able to grab his backup gun, and somehow reach around Ezell to shoot him in the back. This flies in the face of statements from several witnesses at the scene, that Ezell was shot in the back while laying face down. You can see original local news coverage above.
Ezell Ford had mental health problems and was known to people in the neighborhood. He was just a block from his home when he was attacked by police. A lawyer for Ford’s family, Steve Lerman said, “I dare say that this is criminal, I think they executed this poor young man, mentally incompetent man... Defenseless, harmless, unarmed.”
The cops who killed Ezell, Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas, are from a notorious so-called “anti-gang” unit in the area called Newton Division. These pigs proudly call themselves “the Shootin’ Newton.” Wampler was sued in 2011 for a warrant-less search, beating and near drowning because a family he was messing with demanded a warrant. The suit accused the cop of kicking and punching several family members and dragging a son to a kiddie pool, repeatedly pushing his head under water.
The LAPD has also put a security hold on the autopsy results in the murder of Omar Abrego, a 37-year-old father of three who was beaten to death just nine days before Ezell Ford was killed and only four blocks away. You can see the graphic and painful video at right.
In a press conference announcing the autopsy results for Ezell Ford, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told people to “let the system work.” The fact that we are having to read the autopsy report of a 25-year-old Black man murdered by the LAPD pigs is the system working! And the fact that they are still withholding the truth of how they murdered Omar Abrego is the system working. And it didn’t take long for the “system” to start working even harder as all sorts of ex-pigs gave their “impartial” expert views on the autopsy, saying that it proves the account of the killing given by the murderers. “The system working” means that everything is being set in place to, once again, let the pigs who murder a Black or Latino person walk free.
But the people must stand up and say, “This has to stop now!”
Immediately following the release of the report, dozens of demonstrators took to the streets in Los Angeles—in Downtown LA, Leimert Park and through the afternoon and evening at 65th and Broadway where Ezell Ford was murdered. Later in the evening, a small group stopped traffic on a major freeway and fled the scene before they could be arrested. In St. Louis, protesters blocked I70 for Antonio Martin and Ezell Ford.
These were important but the protests need to grow more united, broader, deeper and more determined. We cannot tolerate this any longer and need to reach everyone who feels the same: No New Year Under This Old System, We Can’t Breathe!
LA Plans for New Year’s Eve Include:
• New Year’s Eve, Dec 31
9pm Entrance to Grand Park—reach tens of thousands gathering for a New Year’s celebration
11pm 65th and Broadway—speak-out/ midnight march through the neighborhood
• New Year’s Day, Jan 1
MEET AT 7AM @ MEMORIAL PARK, 30 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91103
Take the Gold Line from Union Station to Memorial Park Metro Stop in Pasadena
Assemble from 7am-8am and march from Memorial Park to Fair Oaks and Colorado Blvd.
Bring banners, posters, signs, whistles and noisemakers! WEAR BLACK
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