Mario Woods had 20 bullet wounds, drugs in system, autopsy shows

Mario Woods suffered 20 gunshot wounds, many of them from behind, when he was killed by San Francisco police officers in December, according to an autopsy report that also indicated the presence of methamphetamine, marijuana, antidepressants and cough medicine in his system.

The report by Chief Medical Examiner Michael Hunter, released Thursday, found the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds, including to Woods’ head, back, abdomen, buttocks, legs and hands.

The autopsy report provides more insight into a shooting that remains under investigation and which garnered nationwide attention after video of the Dec. 2 encounter in the Bayview neighborhood was posted to social media.

Police officials said five officers who shot Woods did their best while trying to subdue a stabbing suspect who still had the knife and refused to comply with commands even after being hit with pepper spray and beanbag rounds.

While the autopsy found 20 clear bullet wounds and one additional “probable gunshot graze wound” to Woods’ right cheek, it’s possible that some individual bullets caused multiple wounds.

“Based on a review of the autopsy report alone, there are 21 total gunshot wounds to the body and 11 of these are perforating, meaning they went through the body,” said Judy Melinek, a board-certified forensic pathologist and author unaffiliated with the case.

Woods suffered at least five bruises from the less-than-lethal beanbag rounds, on his left chest, his left forearm, his left hip and his left thigh, said the report, which also noted superficial injuries likely caused by bullet fragments.

John Burris, an attorney who filed a civil rights lawsuit against San Francisco police on behalf of Woods’ family, said Thursday that the number of gunshot wounds confirms my view that the shooting was excessive.

Police officials, however, said the report “appears to corroborate facts gathered by investigators in the aftermath of this tragic incident.”