Page "Assata Shakur" Paragraph 19

According to initial police statements, at this point one or more of the suspects began firing with automatic handguns and Trooper Foerster fired four times before falling mortally wounded.

At Acoli's trial, Harper testified that the gunfight started " seconds " after Foerster arrived at the scene.

At this trial, Harper said that Foerster reached into the vehicle, pulled out and held up an automatic pistol and ammunition magazine, and said " Jim, look what I found ," while facing Harper at the rear of the vehicle.

At this point, Assata Shakur and Acoli were ordered to put their hands on their laps and not to move ; Harper said that Assata Shakur then reached down to the right of her right leg, pulled out a pistol, and shot him in the shoulder, after which he retreated to behind his vehicle.

Questioned by prosecutor C. Judson Hamlin, Harper said he saw Foerster shot just as Assata Shakur was felled by bullets from Harper's gun.

Harper testified that Acoli shot Foerster with a. 38 caliber automatic pistol and then used Foerster's own gun to " execute him ".

According to the testimony of State Police investigators, two jammed automatic pistols were discovered near Foerster's body.