Jury Rejects Lawsuit Filed By Household Of Tyre King, Ohio Teen 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 demise resulted from extreme power, 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 later found was a BB gun in his waistband, authorities have mentioned. 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 time that there is no such thing as a proof the town and the police division violated Tyre’s civil rights, which means they might not be held legally liable.

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

Sean Walton, a lawyer for King’s household, mentioned that they revered the jury’s resolution, including that the panel “was given a tough resolution they need to have by no means been confronted with.”

However within the assertion issued Thursday, Walton additionally sharply criticized how the town dealt with the matter, saying officers “used each software at their disposal to keep away from being held accountable for killing a baby.” He known as on the town “to do what it takes to start out defending the individuals of this metropolis and cease traumatizing households, witnesses and people who have the braveness to talk fact.”

Columbus Metropolis Legal professional Zach Klein thanked the jury for its efforts.

“It’s unhappy and tough when any life is reduce brief, particularly that of a 13-year-old like Tyre King. We thank the decide and jury for taking the time to listen to and perceive the information of this case, and we respect their resolution,” Klein mentioned.