DETROIT, MICHIGAN – The family of a Black Detroit man who was fatally shot by police officers in October 2018 has been awarded over $1.5 million in damages as a result of a wrongful death lawsuit. Lamont Johnson, 44, was killed during an encounter with Detroit police officers Tyler Nagy and Raul Martinez. Alleging the use of excessive force, Johnson’s family filed the lawsuit against the city of Detroit and the two officers in October 2020.
The breakdown of the $1.5 million in damages includes $4,800 for funeral expenses, $100,000 for conscious pain and suffering, $420,000 for lost wages, $86,000 for medical expenses, and $900,000 for past and future loss of society and companionship. The jury made their decision on March 15 in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan.
The Detroit Police Officers Association union had previously honored Nagy and Martinez in May 2019, commending their actions in preventing harm to others. According to the union’s pamphlet, it was stated that Johnson brandished a pistol, which is contradicted by body camera footage examined during the lawsuit.
During the incident, Johnson had pulled a knife on a friend and threatened him with a handgun. However, no one was injured, and the gun was never discharged. Johnson left the scene on a bicycle but was reported to the police by his friends. Martinez and Nagy, on foot, found Johnson walking alongside his bike shortly afterward. It was alleged that Johnson was too intoxicated to ride the bicycle. The officers, without identifying themselves as police, began shouting at Johnson to show his hands.
Within a matter of seconds, the officers fired at Johnson, resulting in his death. According to defense attorneys, Martinez and Nagy had received information that Johnson was armed and had assaulted three individuals. In their account, the officers claim they gave commands to Johnson to show his hands, which he allegedly did not obey. They shot him out of fear for their own safety.
Contrary to the officers’ claims, the body camera footage reveals that Johnson made no sudden movements from the moment he was spotted by Martinez and Nagy until he was shot. This contradiction is highlighted in the court’s pretrial order.
The jurors’ decision to award damages to the family holds significant implications for police accountability and the use of force. The case underscores the ongoing debate over racial biases and excessive force within law enforcement. Detroit police have yet to respond to the verdict.