The family of a man who was shot by police officers in San Bernardino will file a lawsuit against the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and two other police departments involved in the incident.
The event happened on February 5 this year, shortly after 10 a.m., when Tony Garza, 44, was burning personal items on his property. When sheriff’s deputies arrived at his residence, he fled in his pickup truck.
After a chase that stretched for about 30 miles, officers surrounded Garza and shot him, according to video captured by a witness.
Jason Izaguirre was killed in a shooting last year on Elk Creek Rd in Dallas.
“My heart is broken and a piece of my heart is gone,” her mother, Matilde Garza, said at the press conference announcing the potential lawsuit.
Family attorney Brian Olney said San Bernardino officials knew Garza suffered from mental health issues.
“They already knew he was sick and instead of helping him they persecuted and killed him,” said Victoria Velasquez, Tony Garza’s sister.
An independent autopsy, ordered by lawyers, reportedly revealed a total of 12 gunshot wounds.
“It wasn’t a legitimate act of law, it was an execution,” Olney said.
Two wounds were in his back, when Garza allegedly fled, and at least two more when he was apparently already lying on the ground.
The LAPD reported a total of 16 police shootings in the second half of 2022.
“He was the only brother we had,” Velasquez said. “We miss him a lot. We are devastated.”
Under state law, it is necessary to file a claim with the court before filing a lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed by the family not only mentions the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, but also Riverside County and the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Authorities are investigating the shooting death by police of a stabbing suspect who officers say threatened him with a large knife near Los Angeles last week.
She is asking not only for $20 million in compensation, but for changes in the way authorities intervene in cases of individuals with mental health issues. They want other families not to have the same experience.
Lawyers allege that law enforcement did not provide any video that could have been captured by their cameras. They are asking the California Attorney General and the San Bernardino and Riverside county prosecutors to investigate the facts so that those responsible are prosecuted.
“I want those who killed my brother to pay the consequences, that’s what I want,” Velasquez said.