Los Angeles police violated department policy in the shooting death of an unarmed black man last summer, an oversight panel has concluded.
The civilian panel on Tuesday found that one officer was wrong to use deadly force during the confrontation with Ezell Ford, a 25-year-old man described as mentally ill by his family.
Ford was killed on August 11 by two police officers who confronted him as he walked near his home in Los Angeles.
The panel, known as the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, said however that while one of the two officers involved in the shooting was unjustified in opening fire, the second was right to use his weapon when he saw Ford scuffling with his partner.
The officers said they followed Ford because of his demeanor. According to police, Ford tried to run, before turning on the cops and attempting to grab one of their weapons.
Ford's relatives deny that he was aggressive.
Tuesday's ruling came as the United States grapples with a string of high-profile deaths of African Americans at the hands of police officers.
Los Angeles police violated department policy in the shooting death of an unarmed black man last summer, an oversight panel has concluded.
The civilian panel on Tuesday found that one officer was wrong to use deadly force during the confrontation with Ezell Ford, a 25-year-old man described as mentally ill by his family.
Ford was killed on August 11 by two police officers who confronted him as he walked near his home in Los Angeles.
The panel, known as the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners, said however that while one of the two officers involved in the shooting was unjustified in opening fire, the second was right to use his weapon when he saw Ford scuffling with his partner.
The officers said they followed Ford because of his demeanor. According to police, Ford tried to run, before turning on the cops and attempting to grab one of their weapons.
Ford’s relatives deny that he was aggressive.
Tuesday’s ruling came as the United States grapples with a string of high-profile deaths of African Americans at the hands of police officers.
