 The second autopsy conducted by the State Medical Examiner proved conclusively that Phillip Pannells hands were raised at the moment that he was shot in the back.This evidence corroborated the stories of witnesses at the scene

Protest marches, some violent, ensued, with most African Americans believing that Pannell had been killed in cold blood, and some white residents insisting that Spath had been justified in his actions.Spath was ultimately acquitted on charges of reckless manslaughter in the shooting.