The Courthouse News Service has reported that the mother of a slain student, shot to death at Napa Valley Community College while he was filming and anti-violence music video, has filed a wrongful death suit against a Vallejo police officer and the police department.
According to A.J.G., her son G.J. Jr. was "a community activist, mentor, and student at Napa Valley Community College" prior to being killed by Officer K.T. at approximately 3 p.m. on December 11, 2010.
Allegedly, G.J. Jr., an African-American, "was assisting fellow classmates and friends with the filming of an anti-violence music video" when officers arrived at the scene due to a report stating that "a man (was) brandishing a firearm."
The police report states, "Officers arrived on scene at 3:01 p.m. and observed the suspect flee into a nearby alley. The officers confronted the man, who was now holding the firearm. In self-defense, the officer fired on the suspect, striking him at least once. The suspect was taken via air ambulance to a Bay Area trauma center, where he was later pronounced dead. The identity of the suspect has not been released, pending the notification of next of kin. The 34 year old suspect, a resident of Vallejo, had a criminal history in another state."
In the lawsuit, A.J.G. contends that the police report is incorrect. The suit states that instead G.J. Jr. "and the film crew were following the command(s) of the first officer(s), more officers arrived and commanded the film crew to get on the ground. Mr. (G.J. Jr.)…was a distance from the film crew and was then blocked off by an unmarked police car, as he was walking in the direction of the alley. Member(s) of the film crew and friends stated that defendant (K.T.), who shot Mr. (G.J. Jr.), was wearing plain clothing at the time of the incident. Mr. (G.J. Jr.) was shot as he held his hands in the air, while holding a green cup. The film crew and friends of Mr. (G.J. Jr.) stated that the officer gave no warning(s), to Mr. (G.J. Jr.), prior to firing his weapon."
In the incident's aftermath, the suit states, "After defendant (K.T.) shot Mr. (G.J. Jr.), defendant City's officers and defendant (K.T.) waited unreasonably long before calling for medical assistance for Mr. (G.J. Jr.)….defendant City's officers and defendant (K.T.) directed the ambulance to take Mr. (G.J. Jr.) to John Muir Medical Center, which was unreasonably far from where Mr. (G.J. Jr.) was shot, and other emergency medical facilities would have been more reasonable choices due to their proximity…defendant City's officers and defendant (K.T.) provided no emergency medical care."
The suit is filed in Federal Court and seeks punitive damages for civil rights violations and loss of consortium.
Loosing a loved one at any time is difficult. It can be made doubly difficult with the knowledge that the act was preventable. If you have a case of wrongful death contact a personal injury lawyer to assist you right away.