Losing a loved one in an unsuspected and sudden manner can be very traumatic. Regardless of the reason for injury or death, many family members want to know why the unfortunate incident occurred, and they need these questions answered to reach a sense of closure. One Pennsylvania woman is hoping to find peace and closure by filing a wrongful death claim after her husband was fatally shot by police during an attempted burglary.
The woman’s husband was near the intruder when he was shot by local police officers who were just arriving on the scene. The wife of the deceased says that her husband was fired upon instead of the intruder, who was fleeing at the time. The widow claims that the police fired without warning after shots were heard near the location of the distressing incident.
The wrongful death claim has been filed against the police chief and three unnamed officers who were present at the time of the shooting. Along with her wrongful death claim, the wife is claiming excessive force and failure to properly train police officers. The mayor’s office is looking into the issue and plans to investigate further.
A burglary is often upsetting to victims who generally feels like the incident is a personal assault. Calling the police in to arrest the suspect is usually the first step to properly seeking justice. Should those sworn to protect act in a negligent manner, causing injury or death to another, a wrongful death claim may be filed in a Pennsylvania civil court. Compensation awarded from a successful claim may help to cover medical and final costs.
Source: usnews.com, “Wife of Man Shot by Police on Burglary Call Files Lawsuit“, March 12, 2018