Autopsy Report Reveals Man Shot 12 Times, 8 in the Back, by San Antonio Police

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Man Fatally Shot by San Antonio Police Officers Sustained 12 Gunshot Wounds, Autopsy Report Reveals

In a shocking revelation, an autopsy report obtained by KSAT Investigates has shown that a man killed by San Antonio police officers last year near a West Side creek was shot 12 times, including eight times in the back. The release of the 14-page autopsy report by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office follows the grand jury’s decision earlier this year not to indict three SAPD officers in connection with the shooting death of 28-year-old Kevin Johnson.

The incident took place on March 14, 2022, when officers from SAPD’s Street Crimes Unit located Johnson, who was wanted on multiple felony warrants. Dash-camera footage released by SAPD weeks after the shooting showed Johnson riding a bicycle before an officer swerved near him and attempted to stop him. A foot pursuit ensued, covering about two city blocks, until Johnson ran through a shallow creek between Elmendorf Street and Hamilton Avenue.

During the chase, an officer was recorded on his body-worn camera appearing to tell Johnson to “get down boy.” As Johnson exited the creek, officers spotted a gun in his right hand, according to SAPD officials. Despite officers repeatedly shouting for Johnson to drop the gun, he tripped and rolled forward into the embankment on the other side of the creek. It was at this point that officers fired a flurry of shots at Johnson, killing him.

A handgun was recovered at the scene, and SAPD officials included a still image of the grass-covered gun, with a bullet lodged at an angle in the chamber, in a previous video release. The autopsy report details the multiple gunshot wounds sustained by Johnson, including superficial wounds on the right chest, gunshots to the back and right lateral back, lower back, left buttock, dorsal right thigh, and dorsolateral left forearm. None of the gunshot wounds showed evidence of close range firing.

The autopsy revealed that two of the gunshot wounds pierced Johnson’s heart, three pierced his lungs, and three penetrated or fractured his spine, all of which were life-threatening injuries. Four other gunshot wounds were determined to be non-life-threatening. In total, nine projectiles and fragments were recovered from Johnson’s body, with an additional projectile found in the sleeve of a jacket he was wearing at the time of his death.

The autopsy report concluded that Johnson’s manner of death was a homicide. It also revealed that toxicology screening showed the presence of benzodiazepines, commonly used as sedatives for anxiety, and cocaine in Johnson’s system.

This new information raises further questions about the circumstances surrounding Johnson’s death and the actions of the police officers involved. Despite the graphic details of the autopsy report, the grand jury chose not to indict the officers, leaving many to question the accountability and transparency of the investigation.

It is worth noting that Johnson had posed with multiple handguns on social media just hours before the fatal encounter with the police. At the time of his death, Johnson was wanted on a warrant for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and he had a previous felony conviction for assault on a public servant.

The case of Kevin Johnson’s death serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate surrounding police use of force and the need for greater accountability and transparency in these incidents. The release of the autopsy report sheds light on the extent of the injuries sustained by Johnson, raising concerns about excessive use of force. The community and advocates for police reform will undoubtedly continue to call for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Johnson’s death and for justice to be served..