PITTSBURGH (AP) – Prosecutors will not retry a Black man left paralyzed after he was shot by a White police officer during a traffic stop in Pittsburgh.
The Allegheny County district attorney said Friday that 21-year-old Leon Ford’s injuries will be more of a deterrent than anything coming out of a second trial.
Ford was acquitted in September of aggravated assault for allegedly endangering officers who pulled him over in 2013. But a jury couldn’t decide on counts including reckless endangerment.
Officer David Derbish shot Ford from inside the car when it began moving. Police said Ford was trying to flee. But Ford testified the still-running car got knocked into gear as police tried to pull him from it.
District Attorney Stephen Zappala Jr. says he hopes his decision will assist efforts to improve community relations.
Ford’s attorney applauded the decision.
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