A grieving mother recently learned some critical details after her son was shot by police that prompted her to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Sources indicate that the newly-reported information supported her claim that her son was the victim of a brutal attack by police, and not the other way around.
According to reports, the young man had just gotten into a car accident on the night he was killed. He survived and was able to pull himself from the car and went in search of help. He knocked on a woman’s door, but she thought he was trying to rob her so she called the police. That is where the stories take dramatically different turns.
According to police, the man apparently posed a threat to the officers who responded to the woman’s 911 call. One officer, who was allegedly in fear for his safety, reacted by shooting at the man a dozen times.
But new information from an autopsy calls this account into question. According to the autopsy, the victim was shot while he was either on the ground or on his knees, suggesting that he was not attacking the officers. This detail proved to be critical in the mother’s decision to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Her lawyer also explains that filing the lawsuit should give them the power to access crucial evidence like dash-cam video of the event, which has been withheld. The lawsuit names the shooting officer and others as the negligent parties.
Losing a loved one in any type of accident can be devastating. Families and friends often want to know what happened and whether something could have been done to prevent the accident. In some cases, this information is not readily available. It can require extensive investigation in order to identify the cause of an accident.
Depending on this information, it may be appropriate for family members in California to file a wrongful death lawsuit in order to hold a negligent party responsible. Not only can a lawsuit hold someone accountable for a loss, it can also help to uncover critical details related to the accident and provide compensation for the loved ones who have been devastated as a result of the fatality.
Source: MSNBC, “Jonathan Ferrell’s autopsy results spark suit,” Chris Keane, Jan. 14, 2014