The autopsy for a 13-year-old Northern California fatally shot by Sonoma County sheriff's deputies who thought his replica gun was real earlier this week shows he was shot seven times - within 26 seconds - and the community outrage over the death hasn't waned.
“This wouldn’t have happened if this was an upscale kid from Fountain Grove, but because it was someone from the ghetto, it was allowable,” said Santa Rosa resident Michael Fuentes. “ We’re not expendable. We’re going to make our voice be heard.”
A total of eight rounds were fired, according to a statement put out Thursday by Santa Rosa Police Lt. Paul Henry, whose department is investigating the death. Seven hit the boy, and two were deemed fatal: One to the chest and the second to the hip. Other bullet wounds were found on his right wrist, left bicep, right forearm, right buttocks and hip.
MORE: Sonoma County Deputies Shoot, Kill Boy Carrying Replica Assault Rifle
Deputies said they thought the replica rifle Andy Lopez was carrying in an open field Tuesday afternoon was an AK-47 assault rifle. The officers said they pulled over, took cover and ordered the boy to "put the gun down." One of the deputies told investigators he believed the boy was going to shoot at him or his partner so he fired several rounds.
It all happened very quickly. Santa Rosa police released a timeline - to the second - of the shooting:
- 3:14:15 - Dispatch creates report of suspicious person walking near Moorland and West Robles avenues.
- 3:14:19:- Deputies call for emergency asistance.
- 3:14:25 - Deputies notifiy dispatch that shots have been fired.
- 3:14:41 - Emergency crews asked to come to the scene.
Still, the new details haven't quieted down a portion of the normally quiet North Bay town, where "Justice for Andy" protests and vigils have been held all week and more are planned for Friday.
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On Thursday evening, as drums beat and angry residents chanted, "It's the sheriff's fault," people like Viki Carolan had questions like this: "He went down on the first shot. Why did they find it necessary to continue shooting?"
Sonoma County supervisor David Babbit added that after the grieving takes place, he, too, wants to know what happened, so that it doesn't happen again."
MORE: Retired Cop Says Officers Have to Assume Guns Are Real
Many in town, including Andy's parents, are insisting that Andy was the type of boy who would listen to police. But other witnesses also said they heard police order the boy to drop his weapon.
Ismael Mondragon told NBC Bay Area that he saw Andy moments before he was killed with the gun in his hand. Mondragon said he warned the boy to get rid of such a real-looking weapon.
"I saw him with that rifle in his left hand," Mondgragon said. "And I said, 'Throw that thing away, the police are right behind you.' "
