Jan. 7—The sister of Joshua Musselman, a 29-year-old man shot and killed by Spokane police on Dec. 29, has employed lawyer Rondi Thorp, who beforehand represented the households of a number of different males in lawsuits wrongful demise lawsuits in opposition to town of Spokane, together with one which spawned the most important settlement of its type within the metropolis’s historical past.
Officers reportedly responded to the Northcliff Terrace Apartments following a report of a person firing “what gave the impression to be a rifle” from his condo. It was the second time that day that officers responded to calls about Musselman.
Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall stated at a information convention later that night time that officers approached Musselman and “in some unspecified time in the future felt there was a menace.”
Hall stated “as much as 4” officers fired their weapons, however declined to elucidate how the response escalated right into a use-of-force incident. It’s unclear whether or not Musselman was armed.
Anwar Peace, commissioner of the Spokane Human Rights Commission and Musselman’s neighbor, testified to the Spokane City Council Monday night time that Musselman was the topic of frequent complaints from neighbors and claimed that legislation enforcement or distributors of behavioral well being companies ought to have intervened earlier than the intervention. the deadly capturing on December 29.
Musselman made headlines in July after Spokane law enforcement officials arrested him and charged him with tried car theft and first-degree malicious mischief stemming from an alleged tried theft of an ambulance in downtown Spokane.
According to courtroom paperwork, Musselman had a prolonged prison historical past, together with convictions for tried rape of a kid, assault, car theft and malicious mischief.
Thorp beforehand represented the households of David Novak, who was killed by police in 2019. The metropolis settled the case for $4 million however didn’t admit wrongdoing. He additionally represents the property of Robert Bradley, who was killed by police in 2022. Bradley’s girlfriend, represented by one other lawyer, obtained a $500,000 settlement Monday night, whereas the lawsuit over Bradley’s minor youngsters stays pending earlier than a federal courtroom.
Thorp stated in a quick interview that it was too early to find out whether or not a compensation declare can be made within the occasion of Musselman’s demise.
“We are nonetheless investigating, however we’re involved that his rights have been violated,” Thorp stated. “We will then totally examine and decide whether or not any claims will be made.”
He argued that the Spokane Police Department has did not reform its practices in response to earlier manslaughter settlements and that investigations into police shootings within the area are “an absolute joke and embarrassment to good cops all over the place “.
The Spokane Police Department declined to touch upon the pending litigation.
