Title: Family Seeks $30 Million in Claim Against L.A. County and Sheriff’s Department After Woman’s Fatal Shooting
Los Angeles County – The family of Niani Finlayson, a woman who was fatally shot by a deputy, is demanding $30 million in a claim against Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The incident, which occurred on December 4, has sparked accusations of wrongful death, assault, battery, and civil rights violations.
According to the claim, Finlayson had called for help as her former boyfriend was allegedly strangling her and had also injured her young daughter. Shockingly, instead of finding solace and assistance, the situation escalated tragically when responding deputies reportedly shot Finlayson, claiming she was armed with a kitchen knife.
Heartbreakingly, the claim outlines that Finlayson, who was sitting on the ground at the time, posed no threat to anyone. Nevertheless, she was struck four times in the back by gunfire, with her 9-year-old daughter forced to witness the horrific incident.
The deputy responsible for the shooting has been identified as Ty Shelton. This is not his first involvement in a fatal shooting, as he was previously connected to an incident in 2020. However, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Shelton had acted unlawfully.
Finlayson’s family is now anxiously seeking justice and accountability for her untimely death. Their claim against the county specifically highlights the deputies’ alleged violation of Finlayson’s civil rights and the use of excessive force, leading to her tragic demise.
While the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has not yet officially received the claim, authorities stress that all deputy-involved shootings are taken seriously. As a gesture of transparency, the department has announced its plans to release body-worn camera footage of the incident, which is expected to be available to the public by next week.
The case of Niani Finlayson’s death serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing concerns surrounding law enforcement’s use of force, particularly towards individuals from marginalized communities. As debates on police reform persist, the Finlayson family’s demand for justice highlights the systemic issues that need to be addressed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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