Autopsy: Teen Killed by Denver Police Had 4 Gunshot Wounds
An autopsy shows a 17-year-old girl who was killed by Denver police officers while driving a stolen car suffered four gunshot wounds.
In a report released Friday, the Denver medical examiner’s office said Jessica Hernandez also had marijuana and a small amount of alcohol in her system during the Jan. 26 shooting that sparked protests and calls for an outside investigation.
The shooting came during a national debate about police use of force after racially charged killings in Missouri and New York.
Police say two Denver officers fired at Hernandez after she drove toward one of them. The case remains under investigation by the district attorney.
Two bullets entered through the left side of her chest and traveled right through her body. Her family’s attorney, Qusair Mohamedbhai, said that shows she was shot from the driver’s side of the car.
“These facts undermine Denver Police Department’s claim that Jessie was driving at the officers as they shot her,” Mohamedbhai said in a statement. “The wound path and trajectory of the bullet that likely killed Jessica Hernandez undermines the version of events as indicated by the Denver Police Department.”