Mourners at Tyre King funeral Sept. 24, 2016
Tyre a “small-framed adolescent boy, standing 5’0” and weighing less than 100 lbs.,” who suffered gunshot wounds to his left temple, one to his left collarbone and one to his left flank.
By: September 21, 2016
Tyre King, the 13-year-old boy who was fatally shot by Columbus, Ohio, police last week, was “more likely than not” running away at the time he was killed.
According to an autopsy performed by Dr. Francisco Diaz, an independent medical examiner retained by Tyre’s family, “Based on the location and the direction of the wound paths, it is more likely than not that Tyre King was in the process of running away from the shooter or shooters when he suffered all three gunshot wounds.”
Tyre King, 13
Diaz described Tyre as a “small-framed adolescent boy, standing 5’0” and weighing less than 100 lbs.,” who suffered gunshot wounds to his left temple, one to his left collarbone and one to his left flank.
The results from the local coroner’s office won’t be available for at least six weeks.
As previously reported by The Root, Tyre was shot and killed by Police Officer Bryan Mason on Sept. 14.
Mason, a nine-year veteran on the force, was responding to reports of an armed robbery—in the amount of $10—and a group of teenagers were the alleged suspects. Mason claimed that as he approached, Tyre pulled a BB gun from his waistband that looked like a real firearm, so he opened fire.
Columbus cop Brian Mason had killed before in 2012.
Attorneys for Tyre’s family released the following statement:
“Dr. Diaz determined that Tyre King suffered three gunshot wounds with entrance paths on the left side of his body, any of which could be determined to have been the cause of death. Tyre suffered a gunshot wound of entrance on the left temple that passed left to right and slightly downward and exited through the right temple. The entrance wound was above the left ear and the exit wound was in front of the right ear. Tyre also suffered a gunshot wound to the left collarbone area. Lastly, he suffered a gunshot wound to the left flank. There is an exit wound on the right flank.
Dr. Diaz notes: “Based on the location and the direction of the wound paths it is more likely than not that Tyre King was in the process of running away from the shooter or shooters when he suffered all three gunshot wounds.” Dr. Diaz describes Tyre as a “small-framed adolescent boy, standing 5’0” and weighing less than 100 lbs.”
Based on this new information and as more facts emerge, the family asks for the public to continue to withhold final judgment until all the facts are known and vetted. The Columbus Police Department, the City of Columbus and most importantly Tyre King and his family deserve the benefit of an investigation from a law enforcement agency that has no direct impact from the outcome of that investigation.
The family continues to request a full, thorough and independent investigation by an outside law enforcement agency and are requesting that the Columbus Police Department and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office remove themselves from any involvement in the investigation.
Memorial for Tyre King, 13
Tyre’s autopsy results were released as news about the police shootings of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Okla., and Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, N.C., is still developing.
Kirsten West Savali is a cultural critic and an associate editor at The Root. She was named to Ebony magazine’s 2015 “Power 100” list and awarded a 2015 Harry Frank Guggenheim Fellowship. Her provocative commentary explores the intersections of race, social justice, religion, feminism, politics and pop culture. Follow her on Twitter.
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