A jury has awarded more than $37 million in damages to the family of a Maryland woman who was fatally shot by police in 2016 after a six-hour standoff in her apartment.
The jury took several hours to reach its decision in a civil lawsuit filed against the Baltimore County government and police Cpl. Royce Ruby, who shot Korryn Gaines, The Baltimore Sun reported Friday .
The six-women jury found that the first shot, which killed Gaines and wounded her then 5-year-old son, was not reasonable and violated their civil rights under state and federal statutes, according to the newspaper. It said jurors awarded more than $32 million to Kodi in damages, and $4.5 million to his sister Karsyn. The panel awarded about $300,000 apiece to Gaines’ father, mother and to her estate.
Baltimore County government attorney Mike Field issued a statement afterward saying the county was disappointed with the decision and was reviewing all options, including a possible appeal.Ruby was previously cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the State’s Attorney. He wasn’t charged and has since been promoted.
Jurors heard nearly three weeks of testimony and arguments about the fatal shooting of Aug. 1, 2016.
Assistant County Attorney James S. Ruckle Jr. argued in closing for the defense Friday that Ruby had acted reasonably and out of fear that other officers could be hurt or killed.
He told jurors two officers had tried to serve arrest warrants on Gaines and her fiance that day. When no one would open the apartment door, officers eventually kicked it in, jurors heard. He said the first officer who entered the apartment was “confronted with Korryn Gaines with a shotgun pointed right at him.”
Gaines’ fiance left with their infant daughter. However, Gaines remained with the 5-year-old boy.
Ruckle said Ruby decided to shoot after he saw Gaines’ braids and the barrel of her shotgun rise from behind a wall.
AP
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
