The family of a teenager who was killed by the police has decided to file a wrongful death lawsuit. According to the news report from Feb. 8, the 18-year-old teen was fatally shot by the Atlanta police after being accused of trying to steal an unmarked police vehicle.
The relatives of the teen have sued the city for $5 million. The incident, they argued, should not have resulted in the teen’s death.
Upon seeing the vehicle, the teen allegedly got into the city-issued vehicle and attempted to steal it while the officer, wearing plain clothes at the time, was pumping gas. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation reported that the teen tried to drive away and was shot by the officer. This resulted in the teen hitting other vehicles. Upon reaching the scene, the teen was found dead. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has stated that it doesn’t believe that the teen was armed at the time of the shooting.
In cases like this, it’s clear to see that what happened could have been prevented in several ways. Even if the teen had attempted to steal a vehicle, there are ways to apprehend someone without the use of lethal force. Shooting him also put others in danger, by causing him to wreck into other vehicles.
People need to be held responsible for their actions, but being killed over attempting to steal a vehicle is severe in most people’s opinions. If you lose a loved one in this way or lose a loved one in a sudden accident, you may be able to seek compensation like this family.