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Lawyer: Private autopsy sheds light on shooting

Posted at 6:12 PM, May 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-10 18:33:34-04

It was December 23rd when Dearborn Police shot Kevin Matthews to death during a reported scuffle over a probation violation.

An officer pumped bullets into the 36-year-old man.

Family say he was mentally ill and unarmed.

The 7 Investigators obtained a private autopsy report - done days after the death - which found Matthews was shot six times, once from very close range.

"This is excessive," said family attorney Milton Greenman. "The public needs to know he wasn't just shot accidentally."

Litigation won't happen until the prosecutor releases her results, including the fault - if any - of the officer involved.

"The family is trying to be patient," Greenman says.

Dearborn's police chief was unavailable for comment, but the department has a different version of events.

Two weeks ago, the Justice Department announced it was working with Dearborn Police to review use of force and diversity. This case is one of two recent officer involved deadly shootings involving reportedly unarmed and mentally ill people.