Autopsy: Suspect shot 13 times

The Oakland murder suspect shot to death by Santa Rosa police officers was hit 13 times in the chest, armpit, thigh and back, according to an autopsy summary released Monday.

Four officers fired 27 times at Haki Thurston, 23, as he fled through the Comfort Inn parking lot on Cleveland Avenue Friday night, said Capt. Dave Edmonds of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department.

Thurston was being sought in connection with the slaying of his cousin in Oakland.

Five of the gunshot wounds were lethal injuries to critical organs including his heart, lungs and liver, Edmonds said.

The findings are consistent with statements of the officers and do not show an excessive use of force, Edmonds said.

"What the public sometimes doesn't understand is that officers are trained to shoot until the threat is stopped," said Edmonds, whose office is investigating the shooting. "It's not as easy to hit a moving target as it is on TV."

Edmonds said he did not know how many rounds remained in the officers' weapons.

Santa Rosa police on Monday withheld the names of the four SWAT team officers who fired at Thurston, citing potential safety issues for the officers.

Names of officers involved in shootings have routinely been made public in the past by SantaRosa police and other Sonoma County law enforcement agencies.

"At this point we're not comfortable releasing the names of the officers involved," Capt. Tom Schwedhelm said. "Our primary concern is for the integrity of the investigation and the safety of the officers and their families."

The basic facts of police inciden ts are considered public information by state law, but an exception allows police to withhold the identities of officers or witnesses if their safety or the investigation c ould be endangered by the release of the information.

Schwedhelm said his department may eventually reveal the officers' names.

Santa Rosa Police Chief Ed Flint was out of town Monday and didn't immediately return a phone call seeking an explanation. City Manager Jeff Kolin was on vacation and City Attorney Brien Farrell was out of town. Deputy City Manger Greg Scoles didn't immediately return a call Monday afternoon.

The four officers in the shooting have 10 to 16 years experience, according to police. They have been placed on routine paid administrative leave pending the investigation.

The officers were part of a tactical team assisting Oakland police, who traced Thirston to the motel.

Thurston was shot as he ran from the officers. The Santa Rosa officers fired from .223-caliber rifles, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Officers told sheriff's detectives they believed Thurston was reaching for a gun at his waist. No gun was found.

Monday's autopsy revealed the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds to the right chest, back, left armpit and left rear thigh, according to Sgt. Mitch Mana, chief deputy coroner.

Thirteen apparent entrance wounds were identified, Mana said, and numerous bullet fragments were recovered.

A majority of the wounds were on the right side of Thurston's torso and showed a trajectory from right to left, Mana said.

"We know that the officers were splayed out behind him, standing side-by-side," Edmonds said. "Some officers were more to his left and others more to his right."

Thurston was wanted by Oakland police on suspicion of shooting to death his cousin, Hodari Benson, 26, on Feb. 12, Edmonds said.

Edmonds said some of Thurston's family told investigators that he had said he wouldn't go to jail after his cousin's death, and they feared he would kill himself or commit "suicide by cop."

"We are continuing to try to learn more about Thurston's state of mind leading up to the incident," Edmonds said in a written statement.

Thurston's was the first officer-involved shooting in Santa Rosa since May 14 when a robbery suspect armed with a knife was shot and wounded after reportedly lunging at an officer.

The department identified the officer, Miuke Clark, the following day. In four other officer-involved shootings since 2000, Santa Rosa police have identified the officers involved within a day or on the same day.