Private autopsy claims Vonderrit Myers shot while fleeing

[branford]

215. You assume far too much.

All the officer's shots were likely fired in the span of a couple of seconds. That is precisely why the expert noted that he couldn't determine the order of the wounds. For all intent and purposes, they were "simultaneous." Myers could easily have been shot in the head, and then legs, before falling unconscious. A competent attorney, no less prepared defense expert, would shred the conclusions that seem obvious to you.

In any event, even if the head wound occurred last, it proves very little. The autopsy does not prove that the officer fired the fatal shot well after Myers was no longer a threat, no less at close range.

I would also surmise that the expert specifically highlighted that he couldn't ascertain the order of the wounds in order not to be embroiled in the family's execution theory. He had no problem concluding that Myers was likely fleeing as it probably would not be a point of contention in the event of a trial. However, forensically claiming that an "execution" occurred appeared a bridge too far. I assume he would not relish the potential damage to his reputation that could result from an aggressive cross-examination on the issue.