Los Angeles

Demonstrators Call for Resolution in Investigation Into Ezell Ford's Death

The 25-year-old man was fatally shot two years ago by LAPD officers

Activists held a demonstration Thursday in front of the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office to call for a resolution of the criminal investigation in the death of a 25-year-old black man who was fatally shot by LAPD officers.

Ezell Ford was shot and killed two years ago in South Los Angeles after he tried to wrest a gun from an officer during a struggle, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"This is not a joke. This pain is real. The pain you see is real," said Tritobia Ford, Ezell Ford's mother, who was with the group of activists outside of the district attorney's office.

The officers who shot Ezell Ford were found to be partly "out of policy" by the civilian LA Police Commission.

Protesters said they're tired of waiting for the district attorney to decide if officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas broke any laws.

"I don't believe they're still investigating. It only took the police officers ten months to investigate the murder of my son. So why is it taking her two years?" Tritobia Ford said.

A statement from the district attorney confirmed the Ford case is still active.

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"In an effort to conduct a complete and thorough review of this case, we fought to gain access to witness statements that we believe could shed additional light on this incident," District Attorney Jackie Lacey said. "That legal battle took almost six months but the documents received are vital to our legal analysis. We must evaluate every witness account so that we may reach a fair result for all of the parties involved."

Prosecutors now reviewing hundreds of pages of recently-unsealed transcripts from nine witness depositions.

"I'm standing in the street for justice. Not just for my nephew but for all children killed by the police department," said Theresa Robinson, Ezell Ford's aunt.

"It's like pouring salt in an open wound. We hurt. We hurt for the other families as well," Tritobia Ford said.

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