Updated on: 6/1/2018
Attorneys representing the family of a 23-year-old man who was shot and killed by Federal Way police in August 2010 have filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Seattle Federal Court.
According to news reports, 23-year-old David Young was fatally shot by Matthew Leitgeb, a police officer with the Federal Way Police Department, on August 31, 2010 after a slow-speed police pursuit. Leitgeb and another officer contested that Young had failed to stop and disobeyed commands to exit the vehicle after officers determined it might be stolen.
Leitgeb had first performed a “Pursuit Immobilization Technique” to disable the vehicle, then began to open fire on Young and the vehicle. The officer unloaded an entire clip from his weapon before reloading and firing more rounds at Young, eventually striking him in the back of the head from approximately 90 feet away, killing the man.
The lawsuit alleges that Leitgeb and other officers unconstitutionally used excessive force by utilizing lethal tactics against an unarmed citizen who was suspected of a nonviolent offense. Considering that the man was found to be unarmed, it is unclear why Leitgeb felt the need to fire so many shots at the seemingly unthreatening man.
Wrongful Death Attorneys in Federal Way
If a loved one has been fatally injured as a result of the negligence of another person or entity, you may have rights to a wrongful death claim. To find the value of your case or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, contact the Davis Law Group today at 206-727-4000.