BATMAN
08-03-2005, 06:08 PM
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/US/08/03/toddler.autopsy/story.girl.ap.jpg
A toddler girl suffered two gunshot wounds from Los Angeles police -- one of them blowing out most of her brain -- during officers' standoff with her father last month, an autopsy report concluded.
Suzie Marie Lopez died as a result of a high-velocity rifle wound to her head fired from a distance, a medical examination found, while her father reportedly held the 19-month-old girl on his right side during a gunfire exchange with police.
The child, who weighed 20 pounds, also was shot in the leg. Both bullets traveled through her body, and several minor fragment wounds were detected on the surface of her lower and upper extremities, according to the autopsy report, which was released Tuesday.
SWAT members of the Los Angeles Police Department fired up to 60 rounds when they stormed a business where Jose Raul Pena barricaded himself while holding his daughter as a "human shield," police said.
Pena, 34, died of multiple gunshot wounds during the failed rescue attempt.
The 2 1/2-hour standoff began with a 911 disturbance call when Pena's estranged common-law wife accused him of threatening her, the toddler and a stepdaughter, according to police.
The autopsy report found no evidence that the toddler had suffered previous physical abuse.
Pena began shooting at police when officers arrived at the scene. He eventually unleashed 40 shots, while police fired more than 100 rounds throughout the ordeal, which included a failed negotiation effort.
When SWAT members decided to make a rescue of the girl, Pena fired through the walls of his office, wounding one officer who managed to toss a diversionary explosive device into the room, police said.
After officers fired repeatedly into the room, Pena and the infant were found dead, with an empty 9-mm handgun resting in the father's hand, police said.
Authorities haven't determined which officer's weapon killed the infant. The medical examination found no projectiles in the girl's body, the report said.
A complete police investigation into the shooting will be presented to the Los Angeles district attorney's office and the police department's use-of-force board, which ultimately will make recommendations on the tactical decisions made during the standoff.
In earlier statements, Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton blamed Pena solely for the death of his daughter and found no evidence in the preliminary investigation that pointed to any criminal wrongdoing by police officers.
Last month's ordeal was the second time in the SWAT team's 38-year history that a hostage died during a standoff, police said. In the early 1970s, a hostage-taker killed the victim, according to police.
A toddler girl suffered two gunshot wounds from Los Angeles police -- one of them blowing out most of her brain -- during officers' standoff with her father last month, an autopsy report concluded.
Suzie Marie Lopez died as a result of a high-velocity rifle wound to her head fired from a distance, a medical examination found, while her father reportedly held the 19-month-old girl on his right side during a gunfire exchange with police.
The child, who weighed 20 pounds, also was shot in the leg. Both bullets traveled through her body, and several minor fragment wounds were detected on the surface of her lower and upper extremities, according to the autopsy report, which was released Tuesday.
SWAT members of the Los Angeles Police Department fired up to 60 rounds when they stormed a business where Jose Raul Pena barricaded himself while holding his daughter as a "human shield," police said.
Pena, 34, died of multiple gunshot wounds during the failed rescue attempt.
The 2 1/2-hour standoff began with a 911 disturbance call when Pena's estranged common-law wife accused him of threatening her, the toddler and a stepdaughter, according to police.
The autopsy report found no evidence that the toddler had suffered previous physical abuse.
Pena began shooting at police when officers arrived at the scene. He eventually unleashed 40 shots, while police fired more than 100 rounds throughout the ordeal, which included a failed negotiation effort.
When SWAT members decided to make a rescue of the girl, Pena fired through the walls of his office, wounding one officer who managed to toss a diversionary explosive device into the room, police said.
After officers fired repeatedly into the room, Pena and the infant were found dead, with an empty 9-mm handgun resting in the father's hand, police said.
Authorities haven't determined which officer's weapon killed the infant. The medical examination found no projectiles in the girl's body, the report said.
A complete police investigation into the shooting will be presented to the Los Angeles district attorney's office and the police department's use-of-force board, which ultimately will make recommendations on the tactical decisions made during the standoff.
In earlier statements, Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton blamed Pena solely for the death of his daughter and found no evidence in the preliminary investigation that pointed to any criminal wrongdoing by police officers.
Last month's ordeal was the second time in the SWAT team's 38-year history that a hostage died during a standoff, police said. In the early 1970s, a hostage-taker killed the victim, according to police.