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The family of a 22-year-old Oakland man who was shot and killed by police on New Years day has filed a $25 million dollar wrongful death lawsuit against the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police agency.

Suit Alleges Police Wrongfully Killed Man

BART police allegedly pulled Oscar J. Grant III and a couple of his friends off the train they were riding after participating in New Years festivities. Police picked out the young men from a crowded passenger car after they’d received a report that a fight had broken out on the train.

Police sat Grant and his friends down on the train station platform where they sat for a few moments answering the officer’s questions. Amateur video that captured the entire incident, showed what happened next:

• For a reason which at this point is still unknown, one of the officers pulled Grant into a face-down prone position, pinning him to the ground

• While Grant lay unresistant on the ground, another BART officer stood over him and shot him in the back

Grant died at a nearby hospital 7 hours later.

Witnesses Claim Victim was Cooperative with Police

Witnesses claim that leading up to the fatal shooting:

• Grant was completely cooperative with police
• Grant was unarmed
• Grant tried to de-escalate the tension of the moment by encouraging his friends to cooperate, which they did.
• Appeared fearful of the officers and asked them not to harm him because he had a 4-year-old daughter

Family Files $25 Million Wrongful Death Suit

Tuesday, Grant’s mother filed a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit against the BART police agency. The suit identifies BART police officer, Johannes Mehserle, as the officer who shot Grant.

There has been a tremendous outcry from the public in response to seeing the amateur video of the incident after it was posted on YouTube and broadcast by local news. Mehserle, who was placed on administrative leave, has received numerous death threats from angered citizens.

(Source: LA Times)

Has someone you love died due to the negligence, recklessness or intentional harm of another person or entity? If so, contact us today to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who will help you get the compensation you need to cover both economic and emotional losses.