Photo by Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP
VICE News is closely watching policing in America. Check out the Officer Involved blog here.An autopsy report on the death of Ezell Ford, an unarmed, mentally ill black man killed by the LAPD in August, revealed that he was shot three times — once in his right arm, once in his ride side and once in his back. According to the Los Angeles Times, the autopsy determined that the back and side wounds were fatal. The wound to Ford's back further showed signs of a "very close range" shot.The report's release had been delayed for some months at the request of the LAPD. Police Chief Charlie Beck had defended the hold, which drew public ire. Beck said that withholding the autopsy results during the investigation was necessary to ensure that any witness statements about the fatal encounter between Ford and two veteran gang officers were not influenced by information released publicly about the shooting. But after protests about the delay broke out, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered the LAPD to make the autopsy public by the end of the year.Police reports on the shooting claimed that Ford was tackling one officer and attempting to grab his gun when the cop pulled his gun on the man. The officer's partner also reportedly fired his gun at Ford. But a reported witness, who is also a friend of Ford's family, said that she saw no struggle. The officers involved, Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas, are both veterans of the city's gang unit. The office of inspector general and the district attorney's office are conducting separate investigations into the incident. Both officers remain on the force but have been reassigned to administrative duties.Ford's family claim that he was known to the officers from the neighborhood, and that police knew that he was mentally unwell before the shooting. They have filed a $75 million claim against the city of Los Angeles.Ford was shot just two days after unarmed black teen Mike Brown was killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson, adding to national anger at police killings that grew out of the Missouri suburb shooting.