A San Bernardino County, California, jury has ruled in favor of Antonio Garza Jr.'s mother, awarding her $51.8 million in damages following a federal civil trial. The verdict holds the Sheriff's Department accountable for the man's death, which his family sought help for due to deteriorating mental health. This outcome will result in a significant financial burden for the county, totaling nearly $1 million.
A unanimous verdict was delivered after a seven-day trial, holding the corporation responsible for the actions of its agents, Nicholas Kridner and Bill Abernathy, who were implicated in allegations of excessive force, civil rights violations, and negligent homicide.
The family's legal team has deemed the settlement amount the largest in California's history resulting from a police shooting incident.
A high-speed pursuit that lasted approximately 35 minutes concluded in Palm Springs on February 5, 2023, following an initial incident in Yucca Valley where a fire was intentionally set by Garza.
An independent autopsy report presented in court revealed that police officers fired a total of 21 shots at Garza, with 14 shots being fired initially and an additional seven shots after he had already fallen to the ground. The report indicates that Garza sustained injuries to his back and upper body while he was in a prone position.
A driver captured footage of the incident on Interstate 10, but police officers involved did not have body cameras to record the event.
A video shows Garza holding a golf club and reacting to a police command, with him saying "No, they will shoot me, brother.
Law enforcement officials claimed the individual raised the object and directed it towards one of the officers, prompting both to discharge their firearms.
Relatives of the individual at the center of the story have faced significant challenges in securing attention and support. In 2022, the individual was deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial and was awaiting placement in a state treatment center.
A man was released from a facility on January 24, 2023, and subsequently sought medical attention. However, upon visiting a healthcare provider, he was advised that there was a significant backlog, with a waiting list of six months.
Silvia Garza-Littman, the sister of the victim, expressed her distress, stating that no one was willing to assist her brother in his time of need.
A lawyer representing the defendant, Rebecca Brown, characterized the verdict as the culmination of a case involving an individual with known mental health issues.
The jury delivered a verdict encompassing various forms of compensation, including damages for emotional and physical distress, loss of affection, and economic losses, as well as civil rights violations. Additionally, the court imposed $10 million in punitive damages against the two agents.
