The families of two men killed by police in separate incidents are taking their grievances to the courthouse, with lawsuits mounting against the departments involved. In Cobb County, the family of Devonte Dewayne Brown, who fell to a hail of bullets from a police officer's gun, have their sights set on a legal battle, claiming excessive force.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, Brown's tragedy stemmed from an August 18, 2021 incident where he was accused of driving recklessly. Although he initially complied with law enforcement, the situation escalated when Brown allegedly attempted to flee, striking multiple police vehicles in the process. The encounter culminated with Brown's vehicle being cornered and his airbags deployed before an officer fired a dozen rounds at him. Harry Daniels, representing Brown's family, emphasized that Brown posed no immediate threat at the time of the shooting, "So the imminent threat of violence to the officers or other people - that wasn't the case here. The only thing that could have taken place was damage to squad cars," he told FOX 5 Atlanta.
Meanwhile, in Lansing, the family of Stephen Ruis Romero, who was gunned down in a December police encounter, is alleging civil rights violations. Lansing Police, responding to a domestic assault situation, encountered Romero alongside a vehicle with an open door. Upon spotting a gun on Romero, officers engaged and shot him. The bodycam footage did not appease the family, leading Fieger Law to pursue a civil rights lawsuit on their behalf. The woman involved was found unharmed.
Both officers linked to these fatal shootings were subsequently placed on paid administrative leave. In Lansing, the lawyer for Romero's family cast doubt on the police narrative, stating the family has not been shown the unedited bodycam footage. "The family was not shown the uncut version of the bodycam footage and believe police should not have shot Romero," the lawyer said during a press conference, as detailed by WILX. These looming legal challenges add to the tumultuous discourse around police conduct and the use of force that has grasped the nation.
