Family of man shot by San Bernardino police files $20 million civil rights lawsuit

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) – The family of a man shot and killed by a police officer last December is facing a $20 million civil rights lawsuit.

The attorney for the family of 28-year-old Robert Brown says the officer’s body-worn camera shows the shooting was unjustified and that the officer ignored standard police protocol.

“He’s not saying we’re going after him, that’s a violation of the rules,” said attorney Brad Gage. “He’s not waiting for backup, he’s not even calling for backup. His tactics are atrocious, they’re against the rules, they’re against the State of California’s guidelines for proper police procedures.”

Gage and the Brown family also accuse the officer of targeting Brown because he was biracial.

“He died because of racial discrimination,” said Brown’s sister Victoria Brown.

Although Brown had a criminal past, at the time of the shooting he was driving a car registered to his father, who had no criminal record.

“He didn’t deserve to die like that. He didn’t deserve to die. He ran away, so what? Shoot him in the back?” said his father, Willie Brown.

Brown’s family described him as a loving father to a six-year-old boy.

“I just want everyone to know how much he was loved…I loved him,” his father said.

The incident occurred on December 12, 2023 at around 6:45 a.m.

According to a video message from the San Bernardino Police Department, Brown was pulled over for a traffic violation but fled from the officer as he approached. Brown then led the officer on a chase through the streets of San Bernardino. A foot chase ensued, with the officer pursuing Brown toward a cluster of houses.

“He continued to run through a side fence, but lost his footing and a handgun he was carrying fell to the ground. Rather than simply fleeing, the suspect attempted to re-arm himself,” San Bernardino investigators said during a video statement on the critical incident released on December 27, 2023.

But Gage is convinced that the gun found by investigators did not belong to Brown.

“If they could see a gun, they would know where it was. They wouldn’t have to spend hours looking for it,” he explained.

San Bernardino police said the investigation is ongoing and declined to comment further.