Michael Brown's Parents File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Darren Wilson, City of Ferguson and Police Chief
The family of Michael Brown, the unarmed teenager who was fatally shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri last August, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Ferguson, former police chief Thomas Jackson and former officer Darren Wilson.
The civil lawsuit, which was filed under Missouri's "wrongful death statute," seeks $75,000 in damages along with attorney fees, announced the family's attorney, Benjamin Crump, in a statement on Thursday, reports CNN.
Brown was killed on Aug. 9, 2014 after Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson stopped the 18-year-old man for walking in the street. A confrontation of some sort then ensued before Wilson fatally shot the African American teen. Although he claimed that Brown charged at him, several witnesses said that Wilson opened fired even while Brown was surrendering with his hands in the air. Nevertheless, a grand injury failed to indict the 28-year-old white cop in November.
Lawyers representing Brown's parents, Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr., challenged Wilson's explanation of the shooting.
"He wants us to believe he was a 5-year-old sitting in his patrol car ... and was attacked by Hulk Hogan," said attorney Anthony Gray, describing Wilson's explanation "concocted," according to USA Today.
"America cannot continue to sanction the killings of unarmed people of color. We see these narratives just being accepted," added Crump.
The suit claims that Wilson, who has since resigned from the force, "unjustifiably shot and killed (Brown), using an unnecessary and unreasonable amount (of) force in violation of (Brown's) constitutionally guaranteed right to life."
The suit further accuses Wilson of "destroying evidence and interfering with the investigation."
Jackson is included because he "maintained general supervision" of Wilson and "was also responsible for his hiring, training and retention," the lawsuit states.
According to the lawsuit, Wilson violated Brown's civil rights through a deprivation of his right to "unlawful detention and the use of excessive and deadly force."
It also accuses the city and Chief Jackson of failing to conduct a fair and impartial investigation, in addition to "failing to property train and/or supervise officers in the use of deadly force."
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