Woman suing US Marshal after fiance shot, killed in front of her
Their son was also in the car when his father was shot. US Marshal Eric Tillman, who fatally shot and killed Frankie Jennings, 32, at a gas station in east Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2021 is being sued by his fiancé, Nayja Johnson, for intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and gross negligence by Tillman. The shooting occurred during an arrest attempt for Jennings, who was pumping gas at the time. Johnson was in the car with their child when Tillman shot him three times and died at the scene. The lawsuit alleges that Tillman should have known that firing a gun in a heavily trafficked intersection would pose a significant risk to the public and that Johnson shouldn't have been part of the vehicular assault or containment since she wasn't a suspect. Johnson is seeking damages for both compensatory and punitive damages, reasonable costs, and attorney fees.
Опубликовано : 2 месяца назад от Brandy Beard в General
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - The US Marshal who killed a 32-year-old man at an east Charlotte gas station in front of his fiancé and child is being sued by the man’s fiancé.
The shooting happened on March 23, 2021. Eric Tillman, along with other members of the U.S. Marshals’ Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, reported they were trying to arrest Frankie Jennings on 16 outstanding warrants.
At the time, Jennings was pumping gas for his fiancé at a gas station at Parkwood Avenue and The Plaza.
Jennings’ fiancé, Nayja Johnson, was in the car with their child when he was shot three times by Tillman. He died at the scene.
[Friends, family seek answers after US Marshal deputy fatally shot man on 32nd birthday in east Charlotte]
According to the lawsuit filed on March 23, 2024, Johnson alleges intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and gross negligence, and the violation of the North Carolina State Constitution by Eric Tillman.
Legal documents state that Tillman admitted that not all members of the task force had completed basic trainings.
There were no body-worn cameras or vehicle cameras in use at the time of the shooting. The only video is security footage from the gas station.
Multiple vehicles can be seen surrounding Johnson’s and Jennings’ cars. Jennings ran back to his car, parked on the opposite side of the pump. Johnson can be seen getting out of her car and being restrained by a member of the task force.
“Johnson and her minor child movements were restrained by intentional sudden physical control of the vehicle containment maneuver,” a portion of the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit states that Tillman should have known that firing a gun in a heavily trafficked intersection would pose “significant risk to danger” those in the area.
Johnson also says she shouldn’t have been part of the vehicular assault or containment since she wasn’t a suspect.
At the time of the initial investigation, CMPD handed the case over to the Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office two months later to decide if any charges would be pressed against the officer.
Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather III declined to file charges, saying Tillman feared for his life when he fired the fatal shot.
According to the lawsuit, Tillman admitted that he saw Jennings reach toward the center console where a gun and the gear shift were, but didn’t see him grab the gun.
Johnson is suing for compensatory and punitive damages, reasonable costs and attorney fees, and “any other relief the court may deem just” and is requesting a jury trial.
Темы: Crime, Lawsuits