Autopsy finds man shot in back seven times

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- A California man police said they shot to death because they thought he was about to pull a weapon was shot in the back seven times, an autopsy report stated.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's report, dated Nov. 13, said Jose de la Trinidad was shot five times, four times fatally, in the upper and lower back, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

He also was shot from behind in the right forearm and right hip, the report said.

A witness to the shooting said De La Trinidad was unarmed and complying with deputies' orders to put his hands above his head when he was shot and killed Nov. 10.

The two deputies involved said they shot De La Trinidad when he appeared to be pulling a gun from his waistband.

De La Trinidad, 36, of Culver City, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his brother, whom the officers had stopped for speeding about 10:20 p.m. The men had left De La Trinidad's niece's quinceanera celebration only a few minutes before.

Steve Whitmore, a sheriff's department spokesman, declined to discuss the details of the report but said "the deputies involved were convinced that the public was in danger when they drew their weapons."

The incident is being investigated by several law enforcement agencies.

The report was given to the Times by Arnoldo Casillas, the De La Trinidad's family attorney.