North Carolina Police Chief Claims Handcuffed Teen Shot Himself in the Head While in Police Car

Autopsy confirmed that 17-year-old Jesus Huerta died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound

DURHAM, N.C. — Durham's police chief says that Jesus Huerta, the 17-year-old who died in police custody last month, shot himself in the head after he had been searched, handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car.

"I know that it is hard for people not in law enforcement to understand how someone could be capable of shooting themselves while handcuffed behind the back," Chief Jose Lopez told reporters Wednesday. "While incidents like this are not common, they unfortunately have happened in other jurisdictions in the past."

(H/T Charles WT)