The state Medical Examiner’s Office released the autopsy report Friday for a Black man who struggled with mental illness and was shot five times killed by police in mid-December.
Multiple gunshot wounds is Bennie Edwards’ official cause of death. Two shots grazed him and three hit him in his chest, abdomen and back.
Edwards was confronted by Oklahoma City officers outside a strip mall after police received complaints.
Police say Edwards had a knife and didn’t obey their commands, but they tried to de-escalate. Eventually they fired a taser and pepper spray at him.
A bystander video shows officers fired lethal rounds at Edwards as he ran towards them and then veered away trying to escape.
The autopsy report says the bullet to Edwards' right chest passed through skin, tissue and muscle. The bullet to his right abdomen passed through skin, tissue and his pelvic bone.
The bullet to Edward’s back passed through skin and tissue, damaged his backbone, two ribs, right lung, his heart and his breastbone. Taser probes were attached to his clothes. No drugs were found in his system.
Police have not released their body camera footage and the Oklahoma County District Attorney hasn’t released an opinion on the shooting yet.
---
Support this vital local reporting with a donation to KOSU. Click here to give.
