Facts

On July 28, 2015, at approximately 2:26 a.m., Donnell Thompson, Jr., was fatally shot by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies who mistook him for an armed carjacking suspect.

Plaintiff Donnell Thompson, Sr., decedent's father, sued the County of Los Angeles.

PLAINTIFF’S CONTENTIONS: Officers had just found the carjacking suspect. Shortly after, defendant officers encountered decedent. A neighborhood resident had called 911 after discovering decedent lying in his yard. Officers arrived at the scene and after being shot at with rubber bullets decedent tried to run. An officer then fatally shot decedent with a rifle.

The decedent was later found not to be the suspect and was unarmed. Plaintiff contended that his son was mentally ill. Plaintiff contended that the county was liable for his son’s death.

DEFENDANT’S CONTENTIONS: Defendant contended that plaintiff’s son was a suspect who led police on a high speed chase, shot at them, fled, disappeared into the adjacent neighborhood, and then lay in wait to possibly ambush the officers.

Result

Plaintiff settled with the County of Los Angeles for $1.49 million.