From [HERE] The child of a Black man who was fatally shot by Southern California police in 2018 — and whose death spurred lawmakers to enact a state law that decertifies officers who act criminally or with bias — has settled a federal lawsuit with the city of Gardena for $1.3 million, according to an attorney for the man’s son.

Kenneth Ross Jr., 25, was killed by police in 2018 after officers responded to reports of a man firing his weapon in a park in Gardena, a city in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. His death also prompted calls for police reform.

Attorneys Carl Douglas and Jamon Hicks, who represented Ross’s 8-year-old son, announced the settlement Wednesday in a news release. Ross’s mother and father also settled separately with the city for lesser amounts. “Obviously, the money won’t bring him back,” Hicks said.

According to the complaint:

On Wednesday, April 11, 2018, Defendants, including SERGEANT ROBBINS, received reports of shots fired at or near 12812 Van Ness Ave. in the City of Gardena.

There were no reports that any individual had been shot or injured in connection with the reported shooting.

At least one witness reported that the shots fired sounded like they were coming from two different guns.

According to officers, radio updates indicated that the alleged suspect was running south on Van Ness Ave. and was described as “a male with long dreadlocks wearing shorts.”

Several officers, including SERGEANT ROBBINS, responded to the reports of shots fired.

The first officer to respond reportedly observed DECEDENT running in Rowley Park, approximately a quarter of a mile from the intersection of the reported shots. She pointed her service weapon at DECEDENT from her vehicle, followed him into the parking lot of Rowley Park, and broadcast his description and direction of travel over police radio.

A second officer arrived on the scene, pulled out his Taser, and ordered DECEDENT to stop.

Around the same time, Defendant SERGEANT ROBBINS arrived on the scene, armed himself with his department-issued AR-15 rifle, pointed it at DECEDENT, and threatened to shoot him.

DECEDENT continued running south adjacent to the parking lot of Rowley Park with his side and back to officers. His hands were empty.

DECEDENT did not make any aggressive movements, furtive gestures, or physical movements, which would suggest to a reasonable officer that DECEDENT was a threat to any officers or the public in general.

Without attempting to diffuse the situation or use other means to stop DECEDENT, and despite DECEDENT’s mental health problems being well- known to CITY OF GARDENA law enforcement and officials, Defendant SERGEANT ROBBINS fired his AR-15 rifle at DECEDENT, striking him in the back and shoulder.

No other officer at the scene discharged a firearm.

Defendant Officers, including SERGEANT ROBBINS, immediately began ordering potential witnesses to leave the scene.

Defendant Officers, including SERGEANT ROBBINS, waited approximately five minutes before moving to render aid to DECEDENT.

Defendant Officers then flipped DECEDENT’s lifeless body over. One officer attempted to do chest compressions, but it was clearly too late.

Defendant SERGEANT ROBBINS then directed all officers to turn off their cameras.

Defendant Officers, including SERGEANT ROBBINS, did not find a gun on or near DECEDENT’S body, despite Defendant SERGEANT ROBBINS’ claim that DECEDENT pointed a gun at him.

At no time during the course of these events did DECEDENT pose any reasonable threat of violence to the officers or the public in general. Nor did DECEDENT do anything to justify the use of deadly, excessive, unreasonable, unlawful, and unnecessary force against him.

Defendant SERGEANT ROBBINS negligently and recklessly assessed the situation and met the DECEDENT with deadly force, without having probable cause to believe that DECEDENT had committed a forcible and atrocious felony or would commit a forcible and atrocious felony in the future.

At the time he was shot, DECEDENT was an unarmed, mentally ill, black male running away from officers that had threatened to shoot him.

By either failing to realize that DECEDENT was mentally ill or deliberately disregarding his mental illness, and by engaging DECEDENT without using less lethal tools at his disposal, Defendants, including SERGEANT ROBBINS, demonstrated a deliberate indifference to DECEDENT’s and Plaintiffs’ constitutional and statutory rights.