The family of Jerry Lunceford, a 70-year-old woman who was shot to death by police, is suing Orange County and the City of La Habra for $30 million. They are seeking $15 million from each defendant for her Orange County, California wrongful death.
The plaintiffs in the case are Lunceford's estate, her son, David Lunceford, and her husband, Lowell Lunceford. They claim the peace officers neglected to make sure that they did not use excessive use of force when apprehending the decedent, and instead, they exercised police brutality by shooting her to death.
On the night of December 22, 2008, Orange County sheriff's deputies and La Habra police responded to a call about a distraught woman who may have been suicidal. They evacuated the neighborhood.
They contend that Lunceford came out of the front door and pointed a gun at the cops. Assistant Sheriff Michael Hillman says she disregarded repeated orders to put down her weapon. According to investigators, a number of officers and deputies shot at her when she pointed her gun at them.
However, according to the plaintiffs' Orange County, California wrongful death complaint, police shot Lunceford without provocation while she was talking on the phone to her son. They flashed bright lights at her so she was unable to see the police officers.
Neighbors say that Lunceford, who h had been married to her husband for 51 years, had not shown previous signs of distress. No criminal officers have been charged with her shooting death.
This is not the first police brutality lawsuit against the City of La Habra over a fatal police shooting. La Habra police shot and killed Michael Cho on January 31, 2007 in a strip parking mall after he allegedly waved a tire iron at them in a threatening manner. The 25-year-old's parents filed a La Habra wrongful death lawsuit against the city.
Orange County, California Police Brutality Lawsuits
Police are not supposed to shoot at suspects without provocation--let alone shoot them to death. Police brutality is a crime and violates the victims'civil rights. If you are injured or someone you love dies because police officers used unnecessary violence or were abusive, you may have grounds for filing an Orange County, California police brutality lawsuit or wrongful death claim.
Family seeks $30 million in police shooting death of woman, 70, OC Register, July 9, 2009
70-Year-Old Woman Shot by Police, Pasadena Star-News, December 23, 2008
Michael Sungman Cho shot by La Habra police Dec. 31, January 10, 2008
Related Web Resources:
City of La Habra, California
