According to ABC 11, a man was shot and killed by police outside a home on Cobalt Creek Way, just north of downtown Holly Springs, NC.
Police responded to a call at approximately 9:30 p.m. regarding a man acting out while blocking access to the resident's driveway. The man was allegedly threatening the residents and took off as police officers arrived. During the suspect's attempt to escape, police reported he attacked them with a knife. Two officers opened fire on the suspect, shooting him. He later died at the hospital. The officers involved in the police shooting are under internal investigation.
Attorney contributor Kristen Beightol helps the surviving family of officer-involved shooting deaths file lawsuits in NC. Below, Kristen shared some information regarding their legal rights following an officer-involved shooting.
"Law enforcement abuse, including excessive use of force, has been seen across the country. It is possible for an officer to violate the victim's civil rights if they use deadly force. If the officer had a reasonable suspicion that the suspect was armed and dangerous, an investigation would be necessary. The severity of the crime that the suspect is believed to be committing and whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the officers or other people are just a few of the factors that might affect whether the officer's actions were reasonable in such cases. However, if an officer fails to follow policies, resulting in a wrongful death of a victim, they should be held accountable."
"To learn more about the legal rights following an officer-involved shooting, victims or their surviving family members should consult with an experienced police shooting attorney. They can help to identify if policies were broken and if the victim's rights were violated. There may be legal options to hold the responsible parties accountable, including financial compensation. "