Charlotte, NC – The city of Charlotte has agreed to a $700,000 settlement with the partner of Ruben Galindo, a man fatally shot by police in 2017. The resolution comes just days before the scheduled trial on November 12, ending a legal journey that escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In September 2017, police responded to a call at the Hunters Pointe Apartments regarding a man reportedly armed with a gun. Upon arrival, they encountered Galindo outside the building. According to police, Galindo was initially seen with his hand inside his waistband and subsequently raised his hands, revealing the weapon.
Moments before the shooting, captured on body camera footage, officers can be heard urgently commanding Galindo in Spanish and English to drop the gun and get down. Galindo had called 911 moments earlier, notifying the dispatcher in Spanish that he was armed, which provoked the police response.
In the wake of the incident, the local District Attorney decided not to file charges against the officers involved, asserting the shooting was justified. This led to a legal challenge filed by Galindo’s partner in 2019. Early rulings seemed to favor the police action, deeming Officer David Guerra’s response as reasonable under the circumstances.
However, the lawsuit took a significant turn when the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed the case, contradicting the initial judgment. The appellate court posited that the body camera footage showed Galindo was trying to surrender at the time he was shot, which prompted a reversal of the decision to dismiss the lawsuit.
Following this reversal, the City of Charlotte sought to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal earlier this year, thereby upholding the 4th Circuit Court’s findings.
The legal proceedings neared a conclusion when Galindo’s partner filed a stipulation of dismissal on November 8 after both parties reached the settlement agreement. This pre-trial agreement avoids what was poised to be a complex court showdown.
The settlement stipulates that Galindo’s partner will receive $700,000, and both sides will bear their own legal costs. Such a resolution does not imply an admission of wrongdoing but aims to close the prolonged legal dispute.
The case highlights ongoing concerns and debates over police conduct and the use of deadly force in handling armed individuals. It also underscores the role of body camera footage in assessing law enforcement actions during critical incidents.
As legal analysts often point out, settlements in cases like this also reflect the intricacies and unpredictabilities of civil rights litigation against police actions. These legal outcomes not only influence public perception but also contribute to the broader discourse on justice and law enforcement accountability.
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