An 18-year-old was fatally shot six times May 30 after running from a Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputy, according to a report released by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Ebin Lamont Proctor, 18, was shot by a deputy after reportedly getting into a foot chase and scuffle with the officer, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
A toxicology report by the Yavapai County Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Proctor’s blood showed traces of cocaine, THC — a component in marijuana — alcohol and methamphetamine.
The incident started a little after 4 a.m. May 30.
Proctor was one of six people in a Jeep SUV pulled over by two deputies on Vaquero Lane, in the Verde Villages.
Proctor, whose nickname was “Kumar,” was shot and killed by 26-year-old Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputy Steven Gorman after he fled on foot from the scene.
The 337-page investigative report includes medical reports, witness accounts and details about physical evidence collected in an effort to piece together the events of that night.
The report didn’t present any conclusions based on the evidence; it is currently being reviewed by the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office.
Traffic Stop
Proctor had a warrant out for his arrest when the traffic stop took place, stemming from an incident which occurred on May 22, 2014, where he pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a Chino Valley police officer. Proctor had violated his probation in this case and a $25,000 felony warrant was issued for his arrest.
Proctor and five other people, including one juvenile, had been hanging out earlier that night hanging out and drinking in a secluded area off Ogden Ranch Road, according to accounts of some of the participants interviewed following the shooting.
The Jeep Laredo in question belonged to and was being driven by Rogelio Barajas, who was giving the men a ride home.
The Jeep passed a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office patrol car driven by Deputy John Bounds on State Route 260, according to the report.
The Jeep didn’t turn down its high beams when coming across the car.
Bounds turned around and followed the Jeep for a bit before pulling it over in a residential neighborhood on Vaquero Drive.
According to one account from one of the men in the car, the only issue of concern discussed was a bottle of Jim Beam in the vehicle and that there was no talk of trying to flee.
Gorman arrived to provide backup to the traffic stop.
During the stop, the deputies began trying to identify the people in the Jeep; only one had identification.
When Proctor was asked to identify himself, he gave an alias. It wasn’t until much later in the day, well after his death, that Proctor was identified.
Gorman asked Proctor to step outside the Jeep.
Shots Fired
Bounds said that he was about to contact dispatch when he saw Gorman chasing Proctor on foot.
Bounds also reported that he saw the red laser from a Taser in the distance, heard it discharge and a short time later, heard four or five gun shots.
Bounds radioed in that shots had been fired.
Bounds said he saw blood on the front of Gorman’s uniform, duty belt and hands. Bounds said Gorman stated, “This was not like Afghanistan,” and something like, “Dude, he tried to grab my gun,” and “I was actually scared for my life.”
YCSO Sgt. Brandon Rumpf was on his way to the scene of the traffic stop when he heard garbled reports of the foot chase over the radio.
Rumpf arrived on the scene to find Gorman “very distraught, shaking really badly, he couldn’t see, he had snot rolling out everywhere, he had pepper spray, and he was saying something to the effect that he was pepper sprayed.”
Accounts of the Shooting
Gorman agreed to give his account of what happened to investigators June 2 at his attorney’s Phoenix office.
Gorman said that Proctor ran and he gave chase, with both men tripping over several items in the darkness as they ran through the surrounding neighborhood.
Gorman said he ordered Proctor to stop and eventually fired his Taser, not knowing if it was effective.
The two ended up in the backyard of a home off Yuma Circle, where Gorman said a struggle ensued.
During that struggle, Gorman said that Proctor was trying to overpower him amid more commands to stop.
“Gorman tried to punch the suspect,” according to the report. “However, he was not sure if he landed any strikes. Gorman believed the punches were not effective. Gorman said the suspect began to punch him, striking him on the left side of his body. Gorman said he drew his pepper spray canister from its pouch, pushed open the safety and it felt like it broke.”
Gorman used the pepper spray and felt it hit him in the face; he didn’t know if it had any effect on Proctor.
Gorman said he was starting to get really scared at this point. He told investigators that he pulled his weapon as Proctor started to rise to his feet.
“According to Gorman, he told the suspect ‘Stop, I’m gonna shoot you.’ Gorman said as he presented his weapon, he felt the suspect grab his arm or hand,” the report continued. “Gorman stated he felt the suspect was attempting to take his weapon. Gorman said he fired his weapon.”
“You shot me,” Proctor said, according to Gorman.
Gorman said that Proctor continued to attack him.
“Gorman said he did not know how many times he fired and thought the time from between the first shot and the last shot was only a couple of seconds,” the report states.
At this point Gorman said he was able to grab Proctor and handcuff him.
Gorman said that a man from inside the nearby home yelled out asking what was happening and he told the man he needed help and to dial 911.
Proctor was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The Medical Report
Gorman later went to Verde Valley Medical Center for an examination and was treated.
Proctor’s autopsy was conducted by the Yavapai County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Initially, emergency medical personnel who first arrived to examine Proctor’s body on the scene noted two gunshot wounds, one to the neck where the bullet seemed to be lodged behind the left ear and one to the upper right shoulder area with an exit wound in the back.
A more in-depth examination at the medical examiner’s office revealed a total of seven gunshot injuries but noted that two of the wounds may have been caused by the same bullet.
Gunshots included one that penetrated behind the right ear that exited through the left temple, one that went through the right occipital scalp with no exit wound, one to the upper neck with no exit wound, one to the front of the neck that exited through the left of the neck, one to the right shoulder that exited the back, one to the chest without an exit wound and one to the left upper arm, the wound that was likely caused by a projectile exiting and re-entering.
The gunshots were determined to have been inflicted at “intermediate range.”
The examination also found a loose Taser probe attached to a wire attached to Proctor’s gym shorts.
The examination noted that Proctor had injuries and abrasions on his face, head, arms, knees and legs.
