The city of Lakewood, Washington, has settled with the family of a 26-year-old Black man shot three times by an officer who claimed he acted in self-defense.
Said Joquin died May 1, 2020, after officer Michael Wiley pulled him over for running a stop sign. The $8 million settlement, announced last week, concludes a federal civil rights lawsuit Joquin’s parents filed against the officer, who claimed their son lunged for a gun on the floor of his vehicle.
According to the lawsuit, Wiley approached Joquin’s car with his gun drawn and told him to “Shut the f–k up or you’ll get shot.” Joquin had his hands up, per Wiley’s demands, when he was shot, the suit states. After the shooting, Wiley then allegedly dragged Joquin from the car and “ slammed him onto the ground .”
Wiley was involved in another costly suit against Lakewood in 2017. He was one of three officers held liable by a jury for the death of another young Black man, Leonard Thomas, for a record $15.1 million. A post-trial settlement was reached in exchange for $13 million and a promise not to appeal…