Jessica Hernandez Death: Family Has No Confidence in Investigation by Denver Authorities, Lawyer Argues Teen Was Not 'Driving at the Officers'

The family of Jessica Hernandez, a 17-year-old Latina who was fatally shot by two police officers, wants an independent federal investigation of her death, the Denver Post reports.

Hernandez was shot by police officers in an alley in a Park Hill neighborhood in Denver. The officers claim that Hernandez was driving a stolen car at them, and they fired to defend themselves.

Now, an autopsy has been released that, according to a family spokesperson, shows Hernandez was shot from the driver's side and not head on.

Qusair Mohamedbhai, a lawyer who represents Hernandez's parents, believes the autopsy's findings "undermine the Denver Police Department's claim that Jessie was driving at the officers as they shot her."

"There is now objective evidence contradicting the Denver Police Department's claims that Jessie was to blame for her own death," Mohamedbhai said.

According to Mohamedbhai's statement to the media, Jessica's family has "no confidence that the Denver Police Department or District Attorney will conduct any sort of fair or meaningful investigation," Latino Rebels reported.

It is unclear where the officers were standing when they fired at the car in which Hernandez was sitting. Three shots hit her, two in her left chest and one in the left side of her pelvis.

"The worst thing we could do is jump to conclusions," said Dan Montgomery, a former Westminster police chief who serves as an expert witness in use-of-force cases.

Mohamedbhai also blamed police for inhumane treatment of Hernandez after she was shot. Someone on the crime scene took video of police dragging Hernandez out of the car causing her face and chest to receive cuts. The autopsy confirmed these cuts as occurring after she was already dead.

The investigation in the Hernandez death will continue, according to Denver District Attorney spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough. No time frame is known for the conclusion of the case.

"We will work as quickly as we can, but we'll have to make sure we have all of the information and all of the facts in the investigative case file before we begin the legal review," she said.