A private autopsy found Sunday that the unarmed black teenager, who was killed by a police officer, was shot at least six times, including two in the head, the New York Times reported.
Dr. Michael Baden, the former chief medical examiner for the City of New York who performed the examination, said one of the bullets was in the top of the 18-year-old Michael Brown’s head, suggesting he might be bending down when the police shot him.
“This one here looks like his head was bent downward,” Baden, who noted it could be the last shot to hit Brown, said. “It can be because he’s giving up, or because he’s charging forward at the officer.”
In addition to the two shots in Brown’s head, Baden said Brown was also shot four times in the right arm from his front.
According to Baden’s report, the bullets appeared to have been shot from long distance because no gunpowder was found on Brown’s body. However, this could not be confirmed because gunshot residue could be left on Brown’s clothing, which Badne did not have access.
Baden said his findings did not justify the shooting because he had limited access to some other information.
“We need more information; for example, the police should be examining the automobile to see if there is gunshot residue in the police car,” he said.
Baden’s report was the first time about Brown’s information being released.
“People have been asking: How many times was he shot? This information could have been released on Day 1,” Baden said after the examination. “They don’t do that, even as feelings built up among the citizenry that there was a cover-up. We are hoping to alleviate that.”
Baden conducted the four-hour private autopsy on Brown’s family’s request Sunday at the Austin A. Layne Mortuary in St. Louis.
Photo Credit: USA Today
