Ezell Ford (1988-2014)

November 25, 2017 
/ Contributed By: Lorenzo Bright

Ezell Ford

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On August 11, 2014, 25-year-old Ezell Ford was shot andย killedย by Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas of the Los Angeles Police Department. Ford was fatally wounded west of the corner market at 65th Street and Broadway, one block from his home on 66th Street. After the incident, Ford was taken toย California Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:10 p.m.

Born on October 14, 1988, Ford was the oldest of seven children. According to his great aunt, Mahalia Clark, Ford wanted to become a professionalย athleteย and aย doctor when he grew up. As Ford grew older, he began to lose some of the spark heโ€™d had as a child and was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

According to Clark, to clear his mind, Ford would often go for long walks through his neighborhood, which she believes he was doing on the day of his fateful death.

Two versions of the events were presented. One was by the LAPD, and the other was by bystanders who were on the scene. According to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, Ford ignored commands to stop and was grabbed by Officer Wampler, who believed that he was trying to get rid of drugs. Ford apparently knocked Wampler to the ground, and a struggle ensued. As the two men struggled, Ford allegedly reached for Wamplerโ€™s gun, at which point his partner Officer Villegas opened fire on Ford, hitting him in the side and his arm. Officer Wampler reached for his backup weapon and shot Ford in the back. Prosecutors later stated that Fordโ€™s DNA was present on Wamplerโ€™s holster and that blood stains and scuff marks on Wamplerโ€™s belt were consistent with the statements made by the officers.

However, the reports of the bystanders in the area describe a different set of events. According to Fordโ€™s mother, Mrs. Tritobia Ford, when she arrived on the scene, her son was lying on the ground and complying with the officer’s commands when he was shot three times. Another eyewitness, who requested to remain anonymous, stated that Ford was shot in the back. A third witness, Mrs. Ina Smalls, reported that she rushed outside when she heard gunshots and found officers standing over her neighborโ€™s 25-year-old son. She said he was on the ground, shot dead, and handcuffed to his stomach.

Ultimately, the Los Angeles Police Commission issued a mixed ruling on the shooting, finding that Officer Wampler was wrong to use deadly force but cleared Officer Villegas in the fatal shooting. The board also faulted both officers for drawing their weapons at different points during the confrontation. A settlement of $1.5 million was approved in February of 2017 for the family of Ezell Ford.

About the Author

Author Profile

Lorenzo Bright is a graduate student who is currently pursuing a masterโ€™s degree in museum studies from Johns Hopkins University. His bachelorโ€™s degree in history is from Florida State University. He has presented a number of papers ranging from the African American impact on NASA, and the role of the Harlem Hellfighters in the First World War. His most recent project included organizing and transcribing oral histories of members of the African American community in the Marietta, Georgia area for Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park. His next project will be serving as an oral history intern at the Smithsonianโ€™s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Clearwater, Florida native specializes in Civil Rights history, current events, and the impact of African Americans in a variety of fields.

CITE THIS ENTRY IN APA FORMAT:

Bright, L. (2017, November 25). Ezell Ford (1988-2014). BlackPast.org. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/ford-ezell-1988-2014/

Source of the Author's Information:

โ€œL.A. Police Commission faults officers in Ezell Ford shooting,โ€ http://beta.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ezell-ford-lapd-police-commission-decision-20150609-story.html; โ€œNo charges against LAPD officers who shot and killed Ezell Ford, D.A. says,โ€ http://beta.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ezell-ford-no-charges-20170124-story.html; โ€œPolice Fatally Shoot Man in South L.A.; Family Members Say He Was Lying Down When Shot,โ€ http://ktla.com/2014/08/12/man-hospitalized-after-being-shot-by-police-in-south-l-a/; โ€œEzell Ford: Neighbors and family express anger, sadness over LAPD fatal shooting,โ€ http://www.scpr.org/news/2014/08/15/46007/ezell-ford-lapd-shooting-neighbors-and-family-expr/; โ€œEzell Ford was a victim of gang gunfire long before he died in LAPD shooting,โ€ http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/01/14/49137/ezell-ford-was-a-victim-of-gang-gunfire-long-befor/; โ€œEzell Ford family lawsuit: $1.5M settlement reached,โ€ http://abc7.com/news/ezell-ford-family-lawsuit-$15m-settlement-reached/1744227/.

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