47° P/CLOUDY, Autopsy report of slain victim released
Last Modified: Monday, February 26, 2007 at 7:01 p.m.
The Oakland murder suspect shot and killed Friday night by Santa Rosa police was hit by 13 rounds in his chest, armpit, thigh and back, according to an autopsy report released Monday.
Four Santa Rosa police officers fired at Haki Thurston, 23, a total of 27 times as he ran through the Comfort Inn parking lot Friday night, said Capt. Dave Edmonds of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department.
Five of the gunshot wounds were responsible for injuries to critical organs including the heart, lungs and liver, Edmonds said.
Edmonds said the findings were consistent with the statements of the officers and do not show use of excessive force. Officers said they thought Thurston was reaching for a gun at his waist when they opened fire. No weapon was found.
"What the public sometimes doesn't understand is that officers are trained to shoot until the threat is stopped,"ť said Edmonds, whose office is investigating the shooting. "It's not as easy to hit a moving target as it is on TV."
-- Paul Payne
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