
The City of Arvada has reached a $2 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Destinee Thompson, a pregnant woman who was fatally shot by a police officer in 2021. According to The Denver Post, Thompson, then a 27-year-old mother of three, was killed as she drove away from officers who mistakenly believed she was an armed shoplifting suspect. The settlement, formalized in court records last July, was confirmed this Tuesday.
Destinee Thompson's passing and the loss of her unborn child have stirred continued discourse about police conduct and accountability. Despite the sizeable settlement, the city has not admitted liability, and Arvada Police Detective David Snelling stated that the legal proceedings surrounding the incident have been concluded. Snelling's statement, obtained by The Denver Post, specified that "This matter was settled some time ago, but due to complexities related to Ms. Thompson’s estate, this case was recently finalized in the courts."
Scrutiny of the case peaked when First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King determined that the officer involved in Thompson’s killing acted legally. Consequently, no criminal charges were filed against the officer who fired the fatal shots. As elaborated by KDVR, "District Attorney Alexis King’s office thoroughly reviewed this situation and determined that an Arvada police officer justifiably used deadly force during this incident, her office also determined that no criminal charges should be filed," said the Arvada police in a statement.
As reported by Denver7, the officer, identified as Anthony Benallo, was involved in the encounter on Aug. 17, 2021, which resulted in the shooting. The lawsuit's resolution does not serve as an admission of liability nor does it bring criminal consequences for Benallo, leaving a community to revisit the troubling questions around the intersections of law enforcement, the use of force, and the value of life and potential life cut short under tragic circumstances.