Independent Autopsy Report : Joshua Feast was shot in the back

An independent autopsy performed on Joshua Feast who was killed by a La Marque, TX police officer shows he was shot in back, according to an attorney retained by the family.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said during a press conference Wednesday Dec. 16 that the autopsy showed Joshua Feast died from a single gunshot wound to the back.

“It is very consistent with literally what the witness’ accounts were from that night,” said Crump. “When it entered, it caused all kinds of damage and literally the injuries caused Joshua Feast to be dead on arrival at the hospital.”

According to witnesses on the scene, Feast was running from the police and was shot in the back across the street from his home.

Joshua’s uncle, who spoke to ABC’s Eyewitness News, said a La Marque police officer driving down the street made a U-turn, pulled up, and yelled his nephew’s name. That’s when his nephew ran and the officer shot him in the back, his uncle said.

“I run to my bedroom window and I heard the officer tell him, ‘Put your hands up where I can see them!’” the neighbor said. “But (Josh) was already shot. After (he) was shot, (the officer) said put your hands where I can see them.” The neighbor also said that the officer offered no help to the man after shooting him: “I came outside and overheard the officer saying, ‘Talk to me, Josh. Talk to me, talk to me.’ As if he sees him fading away without trying to render aid or at least help him.”

Crump and Feast’s family are urging the police department to release bodycam video evidence captured at that time of the 22-year-old’s death on Dec. 9.

Police officer Jose Santos has been identified as officer who took the fatal shot.

Santos, who has been with the department since 2014, was involved in a previous deadly officer-involved shooting, according to the department. In that shooting, he shot and killed suspect Gregory Ham in December 2017 after the man struck the officer in the face with a sword, according to authorities.

Santos has been placed on administrative leave while the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and Galveston County District Attorney’s Office investigate Joshua Feast’s killing.