A Los Angeles police officer had no reason to stop and question a black man last year and that violation of department policy led to an altercation that ended with the fatal shooting of the man, an oversight panel found. The Los Angeles Police Commission unanimously determined Tuesday that Officer Sharlton Wampler was unjustified in shooting Ezell Ford, 25, in August. The panel also found that Wampler's partner, Officer Antonio Villegas, was wrong to draw his weapon but acted appropriately in firing it because he believed Wampler's life was in danger. During hours of emotional public testimony before the panel's vote, Ford's mother, Tritobia Ford, urged commissioners to find the officers' actions improper,  saying her mentally ill son had the thought process of an 8- or 10-year-old.An oversight panel found Los Angeles Police Department Officer Sharlton Wampler was unjustified in shooting Ezell Ford, 25, in AugustThe panel also found that Officer Antonio Villegas was wrong to draw his weapon initially but acted appropriately when he shot the man twiceThe two stopped Ford, there was a struggle, Villegas shot the man twice and Wampler pulled out a backup gun afterward and fired a third shot
Wampler thought _ may have been hiding drugs and told him to stop so they could question him.