CHP Ordered To Pay $2 Million Settlement In Fatal Shooting

ESCALON (CBS13) - A judge ordered the California Highway Patrol to pay $2 million to the family of a man officers shot and killed.

"There's not a day that goes by that it doesn't go through my mind," said Joe Pinasco Sr.

Four years after their son Joey's death, the Pinasco family continues to mourn.

"It's horrible. It will never be the same," said Joey's mother, Toni.

It was back in August 2008 that two CHP officers would attempt to pull over the 21-year-old in his truck near the family's Escalon home, but Joey wouldn't stop. Less than five minutes later the officers shot and killed him.

"They didn't have to shoot him," said Joe. "They didn't have to do what they did."

The two CHP officers maintained Joey had spun out of control, crashing into a fence, then he tried to drive right at the officers. But his parents say that story didn't make sense.

"We had this proof that Joey never did try to run them over," said Toni.

In fact, a jury would agree that Joey was wrongfully killed. One recreation played at the trial shows the vehicle moving to the left of the officers.

"They chased Joey down the road and he spun out, he was stuck in the ditch, they shot him from the side of the vehicle and it was wrong," said Joe.

This week a federal judge upheld the $2 million award for his family, but it's no consolation for losing a loved one.

"He was just a fun, loving person. He loved life," said Toni.

The family says it is some justice.

"They're not above the law and this was wrong," said Joe.