While the death of unarmed teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., continues to grip the nation, protesters gathered outside the Los Angeles Police Department’s headquarters Sunday to demand answers in the shooting death of Ezell Ford, an unarmed, 25-year-old man who was shot and killed by police last week.
According to the New York Daily News, witnesses claim that Ford was surrendering and was already on the ground when police shot him on Aug. 11, just two days after Brown’s shooting death. Ford was rushed to the hospital but died from his injuries.
The Daily News notes that Ford suffered from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. According to relatives, he was seeing a doctor and taking medication for his mental health issues.
“I’m sick and tired of the police killing our people off,” one protester, Nicole Tinson, told the Los Angeles Times.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous. A man who holds his hands up is surrendering himself. You can’t go shoot someone already down.”
According to news station KTLA-TV, authorities claim that Ford scuffled with two gang officers, refused to comply and allegedly reached for one of the cop’s guns.
Eyewitnesses told the Los Angeles Times that they saw no struggle between Ford and the officers before he was shot.
“I want to know what probable cause did those gang officers have when they stopped Ford,” Cheryl Dorsey, 56, a retired LAPD sergeant, told the Los Angeles Times.
“There’s been no explanation other than a violent altercation ensued. What does that mean?”
Some marchers who were already out protesting Michael Brown’s death joined the Ford demonstrators.
“It feels good to know that he is supported,” Ford’s aunt, Theresa Robinson, told the Los Angeles Times.
“Justice is all we want. Not just for my nephew, but for all the police have shot. It has to stop.”
