Family Of Black Man Fatally Shot In The Back By Police Files Lawsuit

Family Of Black Man Fatally Shot In The Back By Police Files Lawsuit

Unjustified police killings of young black men across the country are still on the rise, but one case in particular has some questioning whether or not it falls into that category.

via Fox News Salt Lake City

TThe family of Darrien Hunt, who was shot and killed by Saratoga Springs Police last September, is taking their fight for justice to the federal courts.

They plan on filing a civil rights lawsuit alleging wrongful death Friday morning, and they’re asking for millions of dollars in damages.

Hunt’s family attorney, Bob Sykes, said the key factor in the case will be proving that Darrien was already down on the ground and not a threat when police fired the fatal shot.

“He didn’t want to give up the sword and he took off and they fired on him,” Sykes said. “They chased him, he was wearing his pants real low on his hips. When he got to the north part of the Panda Express, they fell down and tripped him and either as he was going down or on the ground, he was shot by the officer and killed.”

Sykes detailed the circumstances surrounding the shooting death in a new 44-page lawsuit. He believes police provoked the 22-year-old man: “They claim that he swung the sword.”

It was September 10, 2014 when Saratoga Springs police were responding to a call about a man with a sword. Surveillance video released months later shows Hunt sprinting while being chased by two officers, who then shot him multiple times. Utah County prosecutors ruled the shooting justified.

The new wrongful death lawsuit says in part, “Darrien was violating no laws by walking openly with a sword. The office was wearing a body camera at the time of the incident. Allegedly he did not turn it on. Darrien was killed by one or more of the final three shots.”

Six rounds were fired, and all of the bullets hit him.

Based on the facts of this case so far, unlike many of the other young black male victims of recent police killings, this man was armed with a Samurai sword. However, his back was to the officers and his family claims he was in a position of surrender.

What’s your take on all of this, Bossip fam? Let’s discuss.