Brother Of Man Killed By Police Sues City

A wrongful death claim has been filed against the city, seeking $1.5 million in damages for the shooting of Edward Anderson by a city police officer.

“They’ve got to do something,” Anderson’s half-brother, Scott Johnson, said Tuesday. “They can’t just take a life and say, ‘Oh, well.”’ Johnson filed the claim for the shooting by Officer William Edwards on Jan. 15. The City attorney’s office said the claim has been forwarded to an insurance company for review.

The company will make recommendations to the city on whether to settle the claim, and if so, for how much. Anderson’s family must wait 60 days after filing the claim before they can file a lawsuit against the city.

An inquest jury ruled earlier this month that while Edwards thought Anderson was a threat when he chased him through a vacant lot following a domestic violence call, the officer did not intend to shoot him.

A firearms review board also ruled the shooting was accidental.

Edwards testified during the inquest that his pistol went off while he was pointing the gun at Anderson and telling him not to move. He said he did not know how the gun fired, but that his finger may have slipped onto the trigger.