In Southern California, the family of a man who was killed by law enforcement officers during a February 19 traffic stop is seeking unspecified damages against the city of Pasadena for his wrongful death. Leroy Barnes was riding in a car that a woman was driving on the wrong side of the road. They were pulled over by police who shot Barnes during a scuffle.
The California wrongful death attorney representing Barnes's family claims that police executed the 37-year-old man and then tried to cover up his shooting death. He contends that an earlier statement by police that Barnes exited the back of the car and fired a weapon at them before they shot him is false.
Police would later revise their statement. One day after the shooting, they admitted that Barnes was engaged in a backseat struggle with police officers when they fired several rounds at him.
One witness reports seeing police shoot Barnes while he was face down and motionless on the street. Reports indicate Barnes may have been shot about 11 times, but because police have put a security hold on the autopsy results, this information as well as data about where on Barnes's body he was shot cannot be confirmed.
Barnes had a lengthy criminal record. In 1990 he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon. In 1993, he was charged with assaulting a police officer. He had over 10 more convictions and was on parole.
An internal investigation into the Barnes shooting is taking place and police are refusing to answer questions until after the probe is over. Barnes's family plans file a California wrongful death lawsuit against the city if they deny their claim.
Police Brutality
Just because you are under suspicion for committing a crime or you have a criminal record does not mean that police are allowed to violate your civil rights. Law enforcement officers are here to protect people, not to abuse their power by engaging in police brutality and causing injury or death as a result.
Leroy Barnes' family files wrongful death claim against city, Pasadena Star-News, March 17, 2009
Shooting Victim Identified as Leroy Barnes, 38, Pasadena Independent, February 20, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Police Brutality, Library.SMC.edu
Video of California police shooting spurs investigation, CNN.com, January 7, 2009
In Orange County, California, our Southern California police brutality law firm are here to make sure that our clients who have had their civil rights violated by police obtain the personal injury compensation they are owed. Contact Howard Nassiri, LLP today.
