D.C. Teen Shot by Officer Was Hit in Back of Head

The 14-year-old killed last month in a confrontation with D.C. police died of a gunshot wound to the back of his head, according to a newly obtained autopsy report.

The report also notes numerous unexplained cuts and bruises from blunt force trauma on the body of DeOnté Rawlings, especially the left side of his face, shoulder and back. The report offers no conclusions about police conduct or what caused the injuries.

"The body has some blunt force injuries including abrasions, contusions and lacerations and a single perforating gunshot wound," wrote A. Wayne Williams, a pathologist with the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Describing the gunshot wound, Williams wrote: "the overall pathway . . . is back to front, left to right and slightly upward."

The report, obtained yesterday by The Washington Post, marks the first time authorities have said DeOnté was shot in the back of the head in the Sept. 17 confrontation in Southeast Washington. But it does not settle questions surrounding the case. Police have said DeOnté was shot in a running gun battle after he opened fire on two off-duty officers. The youth's family has challenged that account, pointing out that no gun was found at the scene.

Carrie Brooks, a spokeswoman for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), said last night that the mayor has not seen the autopsy report and wants to be briefed before commenting.

"Obviously, a 14-year-old being shot in the back of the head -- or anywhere, for that matter -- gives him grave concern," Brooks said.

The U.S. attorney's office, FBI and D.C. police are investigating events, and a grand jury is likely to take on the case. Authorities have said they have had trouble finding witnesses who might be able to confirm or rebut the police account.

According to police, Officer James Haskel asked fellow officer and friend Anthony Clay to help him find a minibike that Haskel believed had been stolen from his home in Southeast. Off duty and out of uniform, the officers went looking for the minibike in Haskel's sport-utility vehicle and found DeOnté riding it on nearby Atlantic Street SE, police have said. DeOnté shot at the officer, police said, and Haskel got out of the SUV, pursued the youth on foot and shot him.

The autopsy report, dated Sept. 27, describes DeOnté as 5-foot-2 and 102 pounds. It includes a toxicology analysis that found no traces of drugs or alcohol in his blood.

The report notes that the youth's hands and fingers had no obvious gunshot residue, powder or soot. Police have said they did not perform gunshot residue tests because they are unreliable.

Greg Lattimer, an attorney for the Rawlings family, said the medical examiner's findings -- especially those describing injuries on the side and back of his body -- are "extremely troubling" and cast doubt on the police version of events.