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Dad: DA Needs To Indict Someone In Death Of Kelly Thomas

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The father of a homeless man who died after a scuffle with Fullerton police officers called Wednesday for the district attorney to aggressively pursue the case.

KNX 1070's Jon Baird reports Ron Thomas is learning more about how his son Kelly died — and he isn't at all surprised by the revelations.

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An attorney for the Thomas family said the UC Irvine Medical Center records – released Wednesday -- confirm that Kelly died from blunt head trauma and that he was shocked with a stun gun right over his heart.

"After they beat him brutally, these rather large police officers – six of them. He was transported to the hospital to St. Jude's. By the time he got to St. Jude's, he was already brain dead," attorney Garo Mardirossian said.

Flyer - Beating Of Kelly Thomas In Fullerton
A flyer posted follwing the alleged assault of Kelly Thomas. (credit: CBS)

The family also released computer-generated images of Kelly Thomas's body which they believe illustrate his medical records. The injuries include taser wounds near his heart, broken left jaw and three cracked ribs, according to the family. His dad said he saw the injuries and the unmistakable marks from the stun gun.

"Basically, it's a needle with a barb on it like a fishing hook, but it's straight," he said. "You see the holes of where it went in."

The coroner's office has yet to determine the official cause of death — a development that also doesn't surprise the older Thomas.

"I think they're being told to delay," he said. "Honestly, I think the D.A. needs to go ahead and come out with indictments at this point."

"I've always stated that I am at war with the police department and if necessary, the D.A.'s office, the city of Fullerton in respect of they owe answers and that's what I mean by at war with. Once they comply, they give all the answers, they cooperate, then we'll all back off to an extent," he added.

The six officers involved in the July 5, altercation have been put on paid leave. The death touched off a firestorm by some activists demanding the resignations of some Fullerton city officials, including the mayor.

Both the district attorney and the Federal Bureau of Investigations are looking into allegations against the department.

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