Jury rejects lawsuit filed by household of juvenile killed by cop

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal jury has discovered {that a} white Ohio police officer didn’t violate a Black teenager’s civil rights when he shot and killed the boy whereas responding to a reported armed theft.

Jurors reached their verdict Wednesday in a lawsuit filed by Tyre King’s grandmother. It challenged the police account of the capturing, alleging that the 13-year-old’s loss of life resulted from extreme drive, racial discrimination and a failure by the police division to correctly examine and self-discipline officers for racially motivated or unconstitutional habits.

Columbus officer Bryan Mason shot King within the head and torso on Sept. 14, 2016, as the teenager ran from police and after King reached for what police found was a BB gun in his waistband, authorities have stated. The gun, discovered on the scene, was designed to seem like an actual firearm and geared up with a laser sight.

The go well with additionally named the town and its police division as defendants, however a federal decide dominated final summer season that there isn’t any proof the town and the police division violated Tyre’s civil rights, which means they may not be held legally liable.

The household’s lawsuit cited witnesses who stated Mason used a racial slur after firing and that the BB gun Tyre reportedly had wasn’t seen.

Mason, who has stated he feared a “gunfight,” contended that he acted moderately to guard himself and denied having directed a slur towards the kids. A grand jury determined to not convey expenses towards him.

Attorneys for Mason and King’s household didn’t instantly reply Thursday to messages searching for touch upon the decision.