Pittsburgh man shot and paralyzed
Leon Ford Jr., 20, is a paraplegic after an encounter with police.
The incident happened on November 11, 2012. Ford was detained during a traffic stop and was told to show identification.
When Ford displayed his identification, police officers thought he had a concealed weapon.
The officers demanded Ford get out of his car, and Ford refused. Officers tried to pull him out of his car, and Ford fled.
As the car pulled away, one of the officers fired, hitting Ford multiple times in the torso.
The officers claim they mistook Leon Ford for Lamont Ford, a known gang member.
Ford, an apparent victim of mistaken identity, is suing the city and the officers, claiming they racially profiled him and used excessive force.
The officers claim that on the night of the shooting they spotted Ford’s Infinity speeding and followed him until he stopped. While one of the officers was confirming Ford’s identity, another officer noticed a bulge on Ford’s leg and thought he was armed. However, after the incident, no weapon was found. Ford was cuffed and arrested at the scene.
Ford is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and reckless driving and had to appear in court.
The prosecution claims that Ford should have followed police instructions by getting out the car.
A video and a recording of the officers confrontation with Ford is the lead evidence in the case. If convicted, Ford could face 20 years in prison.
Ford’s story has been displayed on many social networks sites like Instagram and Facebook. Ford was 19 when the incident occured.
Ford’s attorneys filed a motion to have the charges dropped. However, at the hearing on October 16, an additional charge was levied against Ford: escape.
The judge is expected to rule on the dismissal hearing in approximately two months.The civil trial filed in September is expected to begin next year.
Sireta Diaz was born in Harlem, New York in 1991. She moved to Florida in 2006. In high school, Diaz was an award-winning chorus member. When she entered...
Sireta Diaz • Nov 12, 2013 at 12:11 pm
I will agree you. I think it was more of fear, he probarly felt once he got out the car the police was going to cause harm to him. The fact he ran of course they are going to use that against him.
Sabrina Diaz • Nov 11, 2013 at 8:23 pm
This story seems to be missing some parts. I think that the cops did racial profile him but why would they mistake him having a concealed weapon other than pulling out his identification. This story makes me think that America is still dealing with racism which is so sad. I don’t think that this young man was wrong for running, he was probably scared for his life.
Suehally Macias • Nov 11, 2013 at 12:52 pm
In my opinion, if you ask an individual to provide identification during a routine traffic stop, a police officer should not automatically think that the individual is armed. According to the information provided in your report, the officer never had any reason to suspect Mister Ford of carrying a weapon of any kind. With all of the evidence you’ve provided, I do agree that the police racially profiled Mister Ford. Racial profiling is an unfortunate part of our society; however, what Leon Ford did wrong was RUN. Why? If someone is innocent, why would you run? If an individual runs from the police, he or she automatically appears guilty without reasoning. By no means am I saying what the cops did to Ford was okay, but Leon Ford should have stood proud and kept his head held high like the innocent man that he was.