We are learning more about a claim filed against the city of Fresno.
It’s the first step towards a lawsuit following the death of a 19-year-old shot and killed by police.
The claim was filed on behalf of Dylan Noble’s mother. Noble was shot after a traffic stop last month as officers were looking for a man with a rifle. Noble was not armed.
The claim comes days after attorneys and Dylan Noble’s father and step-father watched the footage from police body cameras of the shooting. Dylan’s mother did not watch the video.
Her attorney says that video lead him to the conclusion that the shooting was unnecessary and excessive force by police.
The officer involved shooting that left 19-year-old Dylan Noble dead was captured on cell phone video by witnesses and by the body cameras that the officers wore.
Attorney Stuart Chandler, who represents Dylan’s mother, has seen the footage from the police body cameras.
“It’s clear that they used unnecessary, excessive, unreasonable force,” Chandler said.
Dylan was pulled over on June 25th, by officers who had received a call about a man with a rifle.
Police chief Jerry Dyer, who has also watched the body cam footage, has said Dylan failed to follow the officers commands to show his hands, and motioned that he had a weapon.
Chandler contends police did not have to shoot Dylan four times.
“It has to be clear to anyone from the City of Fresno looking at that video that what happened here should not happen to the citizens of this city. And they need as quickly as possible step and acknowledge that,” Chandler said.
The city responded to the claim with the state: “Our policy is to refrain from discussing any pending claim or litigation.”
Criminal defense attorney Jonathan Rooker says this claim is the first step taken before a lawsuit is filed. And comes at a time of high emotion across the country over police shootings.
“The public outcry for this type of shooting that ends up being unjustified, which may or may not be the case here, has caused a public outcry,” said attorney Jonathan Rooker.
Chandler plans to go to court to seek a court order to get a copy of the body cam footage.
“Let’s do it right. Let’s have the video. Lets have it analyzed. Let’s have those that are experts on police practices comment. But I don’t think I have to be an expert to know wrong when I see wrong, and what happened was wrong,” Chandler said.