Report: Man Killed by Deputies in Traffic Stop Was Shot in Back

A newspaper has posted what appears to be an autopsy report, showing that Jose de la Trinidad was shot in the back seven times during a traffic stop last November

As the wife of a man shot by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop prepared for a public meeting on the incident next month, a newspaper has posted a document that appears to confirm Rosie de la Trinidad's contention that her husband was shot in the back.

The document, which the Los Angeles Times identified as a Nov. 13 autopsy report, says that Jose de la Trinidad was shot seven times from behind.

The fatal wound entered the upper right portion of de la Trinidad's back, perforating his aorta, the large artery that feeds oxygen to the body from the heart, the report said.

Jose de la Trinidad, 36, was shot and killed Nov. 10 after a traffic stop led to a short pursuit, officials said. De la Trinidad, who was a passenger in a car, was unarmed when he was shot in the 1900 block of East 122nd Street in Willowbrook, deputies said.

In a protest on Saturday, Rosie de la Trinidad and about a dozen other protesters carried signs and chanted, “No justice! No peace!” in the dead man's name.

The group walked nearly two miles to the Compton's Sheriff’s Station where they confronted more than a dozen deputies standing in a line outside.

“He was shot in the back,” Rosie de la Trinidad said. “I don't understand how somebody who was complying with orders and doing what he's supposed to be doing is a threat. You have to gun him down and shoot him? Now he's dead and my kids are destroyed and I'm destroyed.”

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The Sheriffs Department said deputies opened fire because de la Trinidad made a threatening move toward his waistband after getting out of his car.

Protesters said the shooting was overkill and demanded that the deputies involved be arrested and charged with murder.

“We will not stop until accountability for the officers who murdered Jose comes to be!” said protester Damien Ramirez.

Protesters said they will hold a community meeting on Feb. 4, when they also expect a response from Sheriff’s Department.

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