DAYTON, Ohio — The family of a black man fatally shot by a white police officer as he held an air rifle inside an Ohio Wal-Mart has sued the officers involved, the police chief, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and the city.
John Crawford III was shot Aug. 5 inside the store in the Dayton suburb of Beavercreek. Police responded after a 911 caller reported Crawford was waving what appeared to be a firearm.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court charges among other things that Crawford’s civil rights were violated. It also charges negligence.
The family’s attorneys said at a news conference Tuesday that they are seeking justice for Crawford and want to prevent what happened to him from happening to others.
There was no immediate response from the defendants.