Phoenix To Pay $1.5 Million To Family Of Unarmed Man Shot, Killed

Published: Thursday, June 29, 2017 - 5:05am
(Photo by Christina Estes - KJZZ)
The Phoenix City Council agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a claim involving the family of an unarmed man shot and killed by a police officer.

Phoenix has agreed to settle a case involving the family of an unarmed man shot and killed by police. Council members voted Wednesday to pay $1.5 million to the family of Rumain Brisbon.

The 34-year-old was shot during a struggle with a Phoenix police officer at an apartment complex in 2014. 

Councilman Sal DiCiccio voted against the settlement and said it sends a bad message to police. “They did everything perfectly right in this case and I think by paying this out it sets a bad precedent,”  he said.

The officer was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. He reported seeing Brisbon put something in his pants before running away. As they struggled, the officer said he thought Brisbon had a gun. It turned out to be a pill bottle in his pocket.

The shooting sparked protests in Phoenix with residents demanding more transparency.