Nearly six years ago, Lamont Johnson was fatally shot on the 14000 block of Tireman on Detroit’s west side. The shooters? Two Detroit police officers – Tyler Nagy and Raul Martinez. Now, the family of Johnson, a Black man from Detroit, has been awarded $1.5 million in a jury trial which found that the officers used excessive force against Johnson in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Gross Negligence in Police Shooting of Detroit Black Man
Lamont Johnson’s family sued the Detroit police officers and police department in October 2020. They alleged gross negligence and wrongful death, as well as violations of Johnson’s civil and constitutional rights. Some of these claims were later dismissed, but not all were needed to prove the case.
On October 28, 2018, police were called to the Tireman area at 9 p.m. on a report that a man was intoxicated and armed with a handgun. On the dark street, the officers found Johnson standing next to his bike. Officers shone a flashlight in his eyes and shouted, “Hands!” Less than three seconds later, both officers opened fire on Johnson.
During the jury trial, the police department’s procedures expert testified that in reviewing the video of the shooting he did not see Johnson reach for a gun because the film was too dark. It was also reported that Johnson had a handgun but it was in his waistband.
Jury Trial Awards Damages to Deceased’s Family
Mark E. Boegehold, an attorney with Thurswell Law who represented Johnson’s family, argued that Johnson did not have time to reach for the gun. “We alleged that a reasonable police officer would not have shot him because we didn’t see any movement from Lamont, and there wasn’t enough time for him to reach for a gun – 2.5 seconds is not enough time,” said Boegehold. “What they think they saw was not what happened. That’s what we presented to the jury.”
The officers were not accused of intentionally executing Johnson. The police officers did say they believed the man was reaching for his gun and believed their lives were in danger so they fired at him.
The DPD Defends Police Brutality
Though the Johnson family has won a settlement in exchange for Lamont’s life, the officers involved in this shooting remain on the police force. They were named District Officers of the Year by the Detroit Police Officers Association. Nagy was also promoted to sergeant.
A comprehensive internal investigation was conducted and it revealed no policy violations, according to the Detroit police department (DPD). “While the Department respects the jurors’ work in this matter, we ultimately disagree with their findings. It is our understanding that the City of Detroit will be appealing this decision.”
Fight Police Brutality with Thurswell Law
If you have lost a loved one due to gross negligence or police brutality, contact Thurswell Law to discuss your circumstances and the likelihood of a jury trial. Our attorneys have extensive experience and success with cases of this nature, and no one’s life lost at the hands of those tasked with defending them should ever be ignored. Schedule a consultation with Thurswell Law by calling (248) 354-2222 today. Find out how you can get compensation. We do not charge any fees until we win.
