Editorial: Tamir Rice’s Parents File Updated Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Racist Cops

On Friday, Tamir Rice’s family filed an amended federal wrongful death lawsuit which expanded its complaint over how police handled their short, deadly interaction with the 12-year-old, Ohio’s WKBN reported.

The updated complaint is more expansive than the first, which was filed in December just weeks after Cleveland police killed Rice on November 22. Police, responding to a 911 call of a person wielding what was likely a fake gun, shot and killed Rice within seconds of arriving on the scene at the Cuddell Recreation Center. It turned out that Rice was holding a pellet gun.

The Rice family’s updated 72-page complaint includes 27 claims, including wrongful death, excessive force, and battery of Tajai Rice, Tamir’s 14-year-old sister who arrived at the scene just after police shot her brother, the Northeast Ohio Media Group reported.

Since December, Rice’s family replaced their original attorneys with Walter Madison and Benjamin Crump. Crump also represents Trayvon Martin’s family, as well as the family of Michael Brown.

Cleveland police practices have cost people’s lives, and for the city, potential millions of dollars paid out in lawsuit settlements, the Northeast Ohio Media Group reported today. In an analysis of nearly 70 lawsuits and settlements, Northeast Ohio Media Group’s Ryllie Danylko reported that Cleveland police often “draw their guns too early, use force when none is needed and draw innocent bystanders into violent confrontations.” The article is part of NEOMG’s series on Cleveland police called “Forcing Change.”

News sources courtesy of NewsOne & ColorLines.com!!!