Cook County Medical Examiner Ponni Arunkumar took the stand and explained Laquan McDonald’s injuries to jurors.
“There were 16 gunshot wounds to the body of Laquan McDonald,” Arunkumar said early in her testimony.
Prosecutors displayed graphic photos of McDonald’s body throughout her testimony — some that actually showed multiple gunshot wounds at once. Another showed the incision where his chest had been cut open. Prosecutors also showed X-rays.
Here is how Arunkumar described the first eight wounds:
1. A graze wound on the left side of his scalp. Arunkumar said McDonald was alive for this gunshot wound.
2. A gunshot wound to the left side of the base of McDonald’s neck. A bullet was recovered from his body.
3. A gunshot wound to the left side of McDonald’s chest and close to the second gunshot wound. It left his body through the back of his left arm.
4. A gunshot wound to the right side of McDonald’s chest. A bullet was recovered from his body.
5. A gunshot wound to McDonald’s left elbow, which exited the body.
6. A gunshot wound to the back of McDonald’s right upper arm, which exited the body.
7 A gunshot wound to the back of McDonald’s left forearm, which exited the body.
8. A gunshot wound to McDonald’s right upper thigh. The bullet traveled to his left upper leg, where it was recovered.
Cook County Medical Examiner Ponni Arunkumar continued to describe Laquan McDonald’s wounds after a brief break. She described gunshot wounds nine through 16 as follows:
9. A gunshot wound to McDonald’s left upper back, which exited his body.
10. A gunshot wound to McDonald’s left elbow, close to the fifth gunshot wound. This one also exited his body.
11. A gunshot wound to the back of McDonald’s right upper arm. It exited his body through the right upper back.
12. A gunshot wound to McDonald’s right upper forearm. A bullet was recovered from his body.
13. A gunshot wound to the back of McDonald’s right forearm. A bullet was recovered from his body.
14. A gunshot wound to McDonald’s right hand. Bullet fragments were recovered from his body.
15. A gunshot wound to McDonald’s lower right back. A bullet was recovered from his body.
16. A gunshot wound to McDonald’s right upper thigh. It exited McDonald’s body through the back of his right upper thigh.
Bill Ayers 