As reported by the Courthouse News Service, a 911 operator has been named as the defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit for allegedly instructing a victim to return to the scene where he had earlier been attacked. The victim, a Sudanese refugee, was then shot to death in front of his brothers.
The complaint states that J.R.P., 25, joined his family to live in Colorado following his escape from Sudan and an Ethiopian refugee camp.
On April 1 J.R.P. was in a car with his two brothers, C.P. and R.P., and a Sudanese friend, J.K. The suit alleges that a car filled with Hispanic men drove alongside their vehicle and began to harass them.
The suit states, "This group of unidentified males called these plaintiffs and the decedent 'niggers' and threw beer bottles and then 'bottle rockets' at them, shattering their back windshield and injuring them with a shower of broken glass shards. A handgun was also brandished by one of the assailants."
R.P. called 911 and operator J.J.R. answered the call and took the report. According to the complaint, "Plaintiffs reported to defendant (J.J.R.) that they were the victims of, and had been injured by, a racially motivated, life-threatening vicious assault by a group of Hispanic males while they were driving home."
R.P.'s group was able to escape the immediate threat, driving seven blocks away, but were then told by J.J.R. that they had to return to the scene.
The men told J.J.R. that they were scared, however, according to the suit, "Knowing and acknowledging that these men were injured, in shock, and shouldn't be driving, defendant J.J.R. decided not to send a police car and ambulance to the young men's actual location…"
J.J.R. told the men that in order to file a criminal report, or to receive any emergency help, they had to return to the scene.
The suit states, "(R.P.) continued to repeat himself, reportedly telling Defendant (J.J.R.) at least six times that he was injured, in shock, did not want to be driving or return to Denver, and was afraid because the men involved had a gun…(J.J.R.) continually instructed and pressured (R.P.) and the passengers to drive back to Denver, thereby creating and greatly enhancing the danger to these Plaintiffs that proved fatal for (J.R.P.)"
The complaint also outlines that J.J.R. allegedly instructed the men to "make themselves prominent and visually apparent by putting their hazard lights on and leaving them flashing" when they arrived back at the scene.
As the men made their way, still on the phone with J.J.R., the same group of Hispanics allegedly pulled up next to their vehicle – and this time opened fire.
J.R.P., shot with one bullet, died in R.P.'s arms.
Their parents, along with the survivors, claim that the police were never summoned by J.J.R.
Denver has since allegedly fired J.J.R.
Damages are sought by the family for wrongful death, negligence, outrageous conduct and the violation of their 14th Amendment rights.
If you have lost a loved one in a wrongful death situation, contact a personal injury lawyer. Oftentimes monetary awards are considered for surviving family members.