A black man left paralysed after being shot five times by American police has forgiven his attacker – and now works with officers to prevent further casualties.
Leon Ford was 19 when David Derbish, a white Pittsburgh officer, fired five bullets into him at point-blank range after wrongly believing him to be a wanted fugitive.
Now, a decade on, having fought in court to prove his innocence and winning a civil claim against the Pennsylvania force, Ford has chosen reconciliation instead of retaliation.
He even held a face-to-face meeting with Derbish, during which, despite battling years of depression, hatred for the police and suicidal thoughts, Ford shook the hand that pulled the trigger and expressed his desire to work together.
“I believe that meeting was the beginning of Derbish’s healing process,” Ford, now 30, tells The National. “Although he didn’t apologise, the surprise, admiration and respect I saw in his eyes was better than an apology.
“It’s easy for me to say all police officers are bad, just like it’s easy for him to say I’m a bad person. But once he realised I wasn’t – can you imagine what that did to him psychologically?
“At the end of the day, he is a person, he is a police officer still and works as a negotiator.
“What good is it carrying on feeling hatred and expressing just as much, when we can move forward together for the better of our community?
“This was my way of being a better person than that and helping to make a real difference.”
Wrongly shot and taken to court
On November 11, 2012, Ford was driving to his grandmother’s for Sunday dinner when he was stopped by a patrol car.
He had been racially profiled by officers looking for Lamont Ford, a black Pittsburgh resident of around the same age who was wanted on criminal charges but of no relation or connection to Ford.
Despite Ford showing two officers his ID and insisting there had been a mistake, they started pulling him out of his car.
Panicking, he gripped the steering wheel and started driving away. However, unbeknown to him, a third officer, Derbish, who was 26 at the time, had entered the vehicle from the passenger’s side and shot him repeatedly.
“He broke a lot of laws by doing that,” Ford adds. “But I was charged with resisting arrest and felony assault. I was facing 20 years in prison. I was in tremendous physical and psychological pain. I was in a very dark place.”
In the intensive care unit, with staples in his chest, tubes down his throat and having narrowly avoided death, he was arrested.
His family were blocked by officers, who threatened to arrest his father, also called Leon, as they pleaded they let them see him.
They were forced to hire lawyers to file a motion – they waited two weeks before they were granted access.
During his recovery, Ford spent the next six years fighting the same police force, first against the federal crimes he was charged with and then in a civil case. He won the first after a jury found him not guilty of all charges and settled the second for $5.5 million.
He was pushed to the brink of life and credits his “hero” father and “beautiful” mother LaTonya Green for pulling him back, as well as his son LJ, who was born while he was still in hospital.
'Meeting the policeman who shot me'
The pair met in July 2021 at a hotel, joined by a senior police commander and a pastor close to Ford.
“The sight of Derbish startled me. I had once wanted to murder him, and somewhere in me, those feelings still existed,” Ford says. “The anger, frustration and confusion that I had suppressed surfaced for a second or two.”
However, as Derbish approached, Ford looked him in the eye and stretched out his hand.
“Then Derbish asked me: ‘Can I hug you?’ Without thinking I said: ‘Sure.’ And we did.”
Their embrace paved the way for a brutally honest account Derbish’s actions had had on Ford, with the officer then revealing he was inspired by Ford’s prominent activism and campaigning in Pittsburgh.
Ford has spent years trying to bring the city together to heal and set up The Hear Foundation with the city’s former chief of police Scott Schubert as a bridge between officers and the black community.
“Derbish said: ‘I want to be a part of whatever you’re working on.’ I was surprised,” Ford says. “I made it known that I was open to collaborating with him.”
A year before their meeting, Ford had met with Schubert and begun working on programmes in the city to address gun crime, police brutality and violence on the streets, where prison is seen as a “gladiator school” and opportunities to engage with law enforcement – outside of courtrooms and jail cells – is limited.
'People see me as Christ-like, but I'm not'
Ford has now published his memoir, An Unspeakable Hope.
It’s a raw and honest account of his journey to forgiveness, becoming a prominent activist and spearheading change in Pittsburgh.
“People see me like a Christ-like figure, especially in Pittsburgh, they think I’m perfect,” he adds. “But I’m not and I need to give context. It’s my humanity and my life experiences that give me the space to forgive and work with the people who hurt me.”
As a result, Ford’s book is a warts-and-all account of his childhood – from idolising his drugs kingpin father who was highly respected on the streets, to shooting somebody when he was only 14.
After Ford’s father was jailed, he followed him into the drug-dealing business selling marijuana – “I had $130,000 in cash in a shoebox under my bed at 18” – seeking, and earning, respect on the street.
Instead of listening to his father’s pleas to stay in school and stay away from gangs, Ford followed the life he was “preconditioned” for as a young man “surviving in the hood”.
He distrusted police, as everyone around him did, and he watched family, friends and loved ones killed in the streets by other members of his community.
“There was a lot of dysfunction, but also a lot of love,” he adds. “But if we’re able to lean into the love, we can be better – people aren’t inherently bad.”
A wake-up call in Dubai
After the shooting, Ford began building his profile in his community, speaking to schoolchildren, attending rallies and explaining the complexities of forgiveness to those who asked.
He even spoke at an international school in Dubai in April 2019, where one of his closest friends and mentors worked.
In his book, he recounts how the pair were outside eating ice cream when the sound of a motorbike backfiring sparked fears they were being shot at.
“We were so used to gun violence in Pittsburgh that the sound had triggered us,” Ford says. “But my experiences in Dubai left such a strong impression on me that I decided it was time to leave.
“For the first time in my life, I found myself in a foreign land contemplating what life could be like outside of America. It was inspirational to see someone who ran the same streets of Pittsburgh living well as an expat.”
Although he remains in Pittsburgh to help raise his son LJ, his activism and work continue to take him around the US and the world.
He has met and spoken with the likes of former US president Barack Obama, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson – even playing chess against the latter on his Caribbean Necker Island.
“Oh, he dominated me at chess, he’s a machine, one of the most amazing people I’ve met,” Ford says about their game last July.
He now runs The Hear Foundation, funding projects, training and supporting those recently released from prison and helping families affected by gun violence. He even executive produced the documentary Leon, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019.
“I want to show that, if I’m able to meet the police officer who shot me, why can’t other leaders in our communities sit down and collaborate?” he adds.
“I want to offer a perspective that transcends police brutality – my book isn’t about police brutality; it’s about relationships, it’s about community and it’s about problem-solving.
“Be it police violence or community violence, everyone has a role to play.”
Leon Ford’s An Unspeakable Hope is available to download on Kindle via Amazon or order via www.leonfordspeaks.com
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh359,000
On sale: now
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Fixtures
Wednesday January 8 –Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 – Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 – UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle
6.30pm: Handicap | Dh85,000 | 2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap | Dh70,000 | 2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, Friday, March 29, 5pm at The Sevens, Dubai
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The biog
Age: 46
Number of Children: Four
Hobby: Reading history books
Loves: Sports
WTL%20SCHEDULE
%3Cp%3EDECEMBER%2019%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EKites%20v%20Eagles%0D%3Cbr%3EAliassime%20v%20Kyrgios%0D%3Cbr%3ESwiatek%20v%20Garcia%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Tiesto%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDECEMBER%2020%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Hawks%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Zverev%0D%3Cbr%3ESabalenka%20v%20Rybakina%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Wizkid%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2021%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Eagles%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Kyrgios%0D%3Cbr%3EBadosa%20v%20Garcia%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Ne-Yo%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2022%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EHawks%20v%20Kites%0D%3Cbr%3EThiem%20v%20Aliassime%0D%3Cbr%3EKontaveit%20v%20Swiatek%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20deadmau5%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2023%20(2pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EEagles%20v%20Hawks%0D%3Cbr%3EKyrgios%20v%20Zverev%0D%3Cbr%3EGarcia%20v%20Rybakina%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Mohammed%20Ramadan%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2023%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFalcons%20v%20Kites%0D%3Cbr%3EDjokovic%20v%20Aliassime%0D%3Cbr%3ESabalenka%20v%20Swiatek%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Mohammed%20Ramadan%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EDECEMBER%2024%20(6pm)%0D%3Cbr%3EFinals%0D%3Cbr%3EEntertainment%3A%20Armin%20Van%20Buuren%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score)
Porto (0) v Liverpool (2), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sav%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Purvi%20Munot%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24750%2C000%20as%20of%20March%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Results
5.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
Winner Spirit Of Light, Clement Lecoeuvre (jockey), Erwan Charpy (trainer)
6.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner Bright Start, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
6.40pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 2,000m
Winner Twelfthofneverland, Nathan Crosse, Satish Seemar
7.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Imperial Empire, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
7.50pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 2,000m
Winner Record Man, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
8.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner Celtic Prince, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
