Black man in LA dies in police custody; autopsy reveals 16 gunshot wounds

US Media: "Results Confirm Death by Police Shooting"... Uncertain if Victim Was Prone During Incident

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy International Desk Reporter] According to CNN and AP reports on the 3rd (local time), an autopsy revealed that a Black man in his 20s who was shot and killed by police in Los Angeles (LA) last August was shot 16 times.

The official autopsy results from the LA Coroner's Office showed that the deceased, Deza Kiji (29), was shot in 16 locations including the head, chest, and back. The Coroner's Office determined that at least four bullets that hit the heart, lungs, liver, and left kidney caused life-threatening injuries, identifying the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

The autopsy was conducted on the 2nd of last month, but the results were withheld for about a month for security reasons under the direction of the LA County Sheriff's Department before being released this time.

CNN pointed out that this autopsy result confirms that Kiji was killed by the police. However, AP reported that it is still unknown whether Kiji was lying face down on the ground when he was shot.

According to the LA County Sheriff's Department, Kiji was shot by two deputy sheriffs from the department in Westmont near LA on August 31 and died at the scene.

The deputies stopped Kiji, who was riding a bicycle down the street, for violating traffic regulations. Kiji abandoned the bicycle and fled, then punched one of the pursuing deputies in the face.

As Kiji resisted arrest and fled, he dropped a bundle containing clothes, which included a semi-automatic pistol. When Kiji tried to pick it up, the deputy shot at him.

The LA County District Attorney's Office is investigating whether the deputies violated criminal law.

Following Kiji's death in LA, protests chanting slogans such as "Black Lives Matter" took place.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.