KENT, Wash. — The City of Kent will pay $4.4 million to the family of a 20-year-old man killed by the police in 2017.
The settlement will end a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by the family of Giovonn Joseph-McDade, a college student who was unarmed during the fatal encounter with police.
“We felt it was in the best interest of the family, the best interest of the city, to resolve the case and move forward,” said Bailey Stober of the City of Kent.
Joseph-McDade’s family plans a news conference Thursday to discuss the settlement.
On June 24, 2017, a Kent police officer pulled over Joseph-McDade for an expired and canceled registration.
The lawsuit against the city says the driver got out to talk with the officer, who ordered him back into the car.
When Joseph-McDade drove away, police chased him into a cul-de-sac, and penned him in.
Officer William Davis stood in front of Joseph-McDade’s car with his gun drawn.
The city says Davis fired through the windshield when Joseph-McDade accelerated toward him.
Joseph-McDade’s car came to rest at a park, where he died.
As part of the settlement, the city will construct a memorial bench to Joseph-McDade at the park.
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