Protesters March, Temporarily Block Freeway After Release Of Ezell Ford Autopsy Report
SOUTH LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Demonstrators took to the streets, as well as the freeways, to march on Monday evening in reaction to the released autopsy results of Ezell Ford.
An unknown amount of protestors temporarily blocked traffic on the 110 Freeway near South Los Angeles, in a similar fashion protestors showed last month following the Michael Brown Grand Jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri.
The freeway disruption did not last long, and most protestors were off the road within minutes before being dispursed.
About 50 demonstrators originally left from Leimert Park near the Crenshaw District about 4:45 p.m. Monday, with police blocking traffic for the marchers, who were chanting "No justice, no peace" and "Hands up, don't shoot".
The Los Angeles Police Department lifted an administrative hold Monday on an autopsy report from the Aug. 11 officer-involved shooting that killed Ford, a 25-year-old black man who his family says was mentally challenged.
The autopsy report shows he was shot three times, twice fatally.
Read the Report: Ezell Earl Ford (PDF)
According to the report, two doctors consulted for gunshot wound appearance concurred that the wound in Ford's back had a muzzle imprint, indicating the shot was fired at close range.
Ford's family said that he was not armed at the time of the shooting.
The LAPD claims Ford struggled with the officers and reached for one of their weapons when the shooting occurred.
Protesters were also asking for a paid citizen's review board to take over the investigation into Ford's death.
The demonstrators, prior to marching, laid down in the street at the intersection of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards. Police allowed this to happen about five minutes before protesters got up and left on their own.
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