LAPD Kills Unarmed Mentally Ill Black Man FaceDown On Ground, Blames Dead Victim

Ezell Ford, a young black man with “mental problems” was shot and killed by a Los Angeles, California police officer Monday, barely 48 hours after Ferguson police killed an unarmed black man with his hands in the air.

The LA police shooting of the young black man Ezell Ford, 25, occurred about 8:20 p.m. Monday after an officer conducted “an investigative stop” in the 200 block of West 65th Street, according to an LAPD news release.

Just like Ferguson police claimed it was the unarmed black youth’s fault, the LAPD said in the statement Ford reportedly engaged in an altercation with the cops.

“During the stop a struggle ensued, which resulted in an officer-involved-shooting,” the LAPD said in Tuesday’s statement. “The suspect was transported to a local hospital and after lifesaving efforts he succumbed to his injuries.”

According to the victim’s family, Ford was complying with officers when they shot him in the back while he was facedown before the police.

USA Today reported that Ford was unarmed.

“They laid him out and for whatever reason, they shot him in the back, knowing mentally, he has complications,” an unnamed man who identified himself as the victim’s cousin told local station KTLA News. “Every officer in this area, from the Newton Division, knows that — that this child has mental problems,” he said. “The excessive force … there was no purpose for it. The multiple shootings in the back while he’s laying down? No.”

The victim’s mother was met with police brandishing nightsticks when she arrived on the scene, according to the cousin.

“Then when the mom comes, they don’t try to console her…  They pull the billy clubs out,” he said.

“My heart is so heavy,” the mother, Tritobia Ford, told KTLA News.

“My son was a good kid. He didn’t deserve to die the way he did.”

“All we want to know is why they did it,” Ezell Ford Sr. added.

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