The Sacramento coroner's official report on the fatal police shooting of Stephon Clark was has been released and it disputes the findings of an independent medical examiner hired by the family.
Coroner Kimberly Gin said in a letter to police dated Friday that she brought five pathologists into the matter "in light of the erroneous information that was released from the private autopsy."
Among the new findings: Clark was shot seven times - not eight - and three of the shots – not six – were fired into his back, the Sacramento Bee reports.
The findings are starkly different from those presented March 30 by Dr. Bennet Omalu, a noted pathologist hired by the Clark family legal team.
A toxicology report also released by police found traces of cocaine, cannabis and codeine in Clark's system. Codeine and hydrocodone were found in Clark’s urine.
"It is clear from review of the written report and photographic documentation that Stephon Clark was struck by seven bullets, not eight as claimed by Dr. Omalu in his press conference statements and as shown on his autopsy diagram," wrote Dr. Gregory D. Reiber, a Roseville pathologist who reviewed the county's autopsy report at Gin's request.
Omalu said at his March press conference that Clark was not facing officers when they opened fire, but that his left side was toward them and the first bullet struck in the side. The force of that bullet spun him around with his back to officers, leading to six rounds hitting him in the back, Omalu said.
Reiber disagreed, saying that the first shot to hit Clark "was most likely" to the left thigh and that it was sustained "either as Clark was walking toward the officers' position with his left thigh raised, or possibly in the crouching position."
