Family of homeless Black man shot 22 times by cops settles lawsuit for $3.5 million
“The settlement makes me feel a little bit better,” Wayne Jones’ brother said.
The family of a Black man, who died after police shot him 22 times, have reached a settlement regarding the case.
On March 13, 2013, Wayne Arnold Jones was approached by cops in West Virginia, who claimed that the former was walking on the street instead of the sidewalk. The 50-year-old, who was homeless and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was placed in a chokehold by authorities and was shot over 20 times while laying on the ground.
At the time, the five white officers claimed that Jones struggled against them and stabbed a cop with a pocket knife. After hearing about the passing of their loved one, Jones’ family sued the city of Martinsburg, suggesting that the deputies used excessive force.
Over the years, the case has faced a number of issues, however, the Jones family has now reached a $3.5 million settlement deal. “A reasonable jury could find that Jones was both secured and incapacitated in the final moments before his death,” the three-member panel wrote in a statement.
The police department explained that the city opted to settle the lawsuit to avoid heading to trial. “With this settlement, the City and the MPD hope everyone involved will be able to put this incident behind them and allow the community to heal,” the city of Martinsburg said in a statement.
Bruce Jones, the late 50-year-old’s brother, explained that there is still more work to be done, adding that the fight for justice is not over. “The settlement makes me feel a little bit better, but until I can have a chance to have these cops prosecuted, I am still going to be pushing for justice,” he said.
The news of the settlement comes amid the ongoing protests in America, calling for racial equality, an end to gun violence and more.