The LAPD has released the names of two officers involved in Ezell Ford’s (pictured) fatal shooting, theLos Angeles Times reports.
Officers Sharlton Wampler and Antonio Villegas are both assigned to the Newton Division Gang enforcement detail. Records show Wampler has been with the department for 12 years and Villegas for eight.
The department released the names after South L.A. locals demanded that they be made public shortly after Ford’s shooting. According to officials, they supposedly hesitated to make the officers’ identities public because they wanted to see if anyone had made threats against their safety.
“In this particular case, it was necessary to investigate evidence brought to the department’s attention regarding potential threats to the safety of the officers and ensure that measures were taken to mitigate those threats,” they said in a statement.
Officials have also placed a hold on Ford’s autopsy, so information about his wounds remain secret, fostering accusations of a cover-up by some.
Authorities have also declined to share why the officers stopped Ford to begin with.
Ford’s August 11th shooting came after he allegedly tackled one officer and went for his gun, causing both to fire.
However, someone who saw the altercation said both parties didn’t struggle.
His killing came two days after Michael Brown died in a confrontation with Ferguson police officerDarren Wilson.
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