Family of Black Man Files $30M Suit Over Deputies’ Shooting

Family of Black Man Files $30M Suit Over Deputies’ Shooting

Introduction

On April 21, 2021, an unarmed black man was shot dead by Pasquotank County sheriff's deputies. The family of the black man filed a $30 million civil rights lawsuit. They claim that officers who have filed drug-related warrants at the black man Elizabeth City home shot him intentionally and recklessly. The deputies surrounded the black man's BMW car when he was trying to move away from them. They started firing into his vehicle when a bullet hit him at the back of his head that led to his death. Lawyers representing the black man’s family states that the shooting was unjustified as he was trying to drive away and not towards the deputies. One of the attorneys representing the black man said in a news conference that it was easy to draft a lawsuit in this case as anybody can say that it was an unlawful killing. The paternal aunt of the black man, who is the administrator of his estate, has filed the lawsuit U.S. District Court. The lawsuit also says that the 42 year old man was the father of seven children. The attorney representing Pasquotank County Sheriff and other deputies cleared them in May, stating that the black man had struck a deputy with his car and he was using it as a deadly weapon. The black man also nearly ran over them by ignoring the officers' command to move out of the vehicle and surrender to them. The black man civil rights lawsuit has angered the people in northeastern North Carolina. Residents have been protesting for the past 85 days. One of the deputies who shot at the black man's car has also resigned from his post. The FBI has also filed a Civil rights investigation in this case. Earlier in a similar lawsuit, the family of a man who was shot by police in Louisiana has agreed to receive a $4.5 million settlement after five years of his death. The deceased man was a 37-year-old father of five who got killed on July 5, 2016, outside a convenience store by Baton Rouge police officers. The man's death resulted in nationwide protests. Attorneys for the man sued the city, its police department and former police chief, and the two officers for the incident. The officer who shot the man was fired in March 2018. Another officer was suspended for three days who wrestled the deceased to the ground. The lawyers of the family said that the settlement would provide financial stability to the man's family. Earlier, three settlement offers were rejected by East Baton Rouge Metro Council, and the final agreement was approved in February. The family has even alleged that the shooting was a part of racist behavior and excessive force by Baton Rouge police. The Mayor of the city said that the settlement is important for the community and will also ensure that no such offense takes place with any other family in Baton. East Baton Rouge Parish’s insurance reserve funds will be used to pay $1 million to the deceased children, whereas the remaining money will be paid in installments from the annual operating budget over the next four years.