Judge Declines To Dismiss Lawsuit In Fatal Dearborn Police Shooting
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — A jury will decide whether a Dearborn police officer violated the rights of a man who was shot nine times and killed during a struggle in 2015.
A judge says experts have "cast doubt" on Officer Chris Hampton's explanation. In an April 29 opinion, federal Judge George Caram Steeh declined to dismiss the lawsuit by Kevin Matthews' family.
Matthews was fatally shot at the end of a foot chase. Hampton says Matthews was a threat because he was grabbing for the officer's gun. Hampton was pursuing him for a probation violation.
But two gun experts who analyzed the evidence believe the 215-pound officer was standing over the 140-pound Matthews and shooting down. The judge says a jury will sort out the facts.
Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy didn't file charges.
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