Not really that hard to believe since it was decided by a jury of peers. Guess it doesn't matter that the officer was cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the State's Attorney, and has since been promoted.

Fox News

Baltimore County jury awards $37M to family of police shooting victim

The family of a Maryland woman who was fatally shot by police in 2016 after a six-hour standoff in her apartment was awarded more than $37 million Friday.

The jury took several hours to reach its decision in the case of Korryn Gaines, 23, who was shot by police Cpl. Royce Ruby, the Baltimore Sun reported.

The family had filed its civil lawsuit against the Baltimore County government and Ruby, the newspaper reported.

The jury of six women found that the first shot, which killed Gaines and wounded her then 5-year-old son, Kodi, was not reasonable and violated their civil rights under state and federal statutes, according to the newspaper.

It said jurors awarded more than $32 million to Kodi in damages, and $4.5 million to his sister Karsyn. The panel awarded about $300,000 apiece to Gaines' father, mother and to her estate.

Gasps were heard in the courtroom when the jury forewoman read the decision, the Sun reported.
Gaines' mother, Rhanda Dormeus, spoke to reporters through tears outside the courthouse.

"This win is for all of my sisters in the movement who have lost their children to police violence," she said. "Some of them have never received justice, either criminally or civil. I just want to tell them that this win is for them."

Baltimore County government attorney Mike Field issued a statement afterward saying the county was disappointed with the decision and was reviewing all options, including a possible appeal.

Ruby was previously cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the State's Attorney. He wasn't charged and has since been promoted.

Jurors heard nearly three weeks of testimony and arguments about the fatal shooting of Aug. 1, 2016.

Assistant County Attorney James S. Ruckle Jr. argued in closing for the defense Friday that Ruby had acted reasonably and out of fear that other officers could be hurt or killed.

He told jurors two officers had tried to serve
arrest warrants on Gaines and her fiance that day. When no one would open the apartment door, officers eventually kicked it in, jurors heard. He said the first officer who entered the apartment was "confronted with Korryn Gaines with a shotgun pointed right at him."

Gaines' fiance left with their infant daughter. However, Gaines remained with the 5-year-old boy.

Ruckle said Ruby decided to shoot after he saw Gaines' braids and the barrel of her shotgun rise from behind a wall.

"What Cpl. Ruby was doing was attempting to end, terminate the threat," Ruckle said.

Kenneth Ravenell, the attorney for Kodi's father Corey Cunningham, said the youngster didn't deserve to be shot and then watch his mother die. Ravenell called Ruby's decision to fire "reckless."

The case garnered national attention, with some activists citing it as an instance of excessive police force, the newspaper reported.

Gaines' family and attorneys expressed relief that the jury sided with them and found the shooting was wrong, though some said they were frustrated Ruby remains on the police force.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Madness. Another ghetto lottery winner in a liberal stronghold city.

And any one of them can win it. Because they are all in it. Regards 18DAI

Sounds like 37 million reasons to point a weapon at a police officer. What a dangerous precedent to set. Baltimore doesn't really surprise me at this point though.

Just read that story a few minutes ago and I can't believe it. It's absolute madness that someone with warrants points a gun at a cop, get killed, and then is considered the "victim".

California on the East Coast!

That's only about $60.00 from every Baltimore resident.

I don't see the problem.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/ne...-20170322-story.html

Police violence lol

This was in Baltimore County, not Baltimore City.

The award is totally outrageous.

Hopefully this comes true:

"Maryland has a cap on local governments’ liability in certain cases, however, and some legal experts speculated Gaines’ relatives might not see the full amount of the jury award"

There shouldn't be any award. These awards send completely the wrong message to the community at large.

These huge awards also are a prime reason for poor police/community relations.

quote:

"This win is for all of my sisters in the movement who have lost their children to police violence," she said. "Some of them have never received justice, either criminally or civil. I just want to tell them that this win is for them."

So I guess she will divide the 37M among all her "sisters."

quote:

Originally posted by RichardC:
That's only about $60.00 from every Baltimore resident.

And how much from every tax-paying resident?

They'll be bankrupt and dead within a couple of years.

Good news for local Cadillac dealerships and of course, the local drug dealers. Enjoy the business until your customers are broke and dead, whichever comes first.

That's pretty ugly.

But everything I have read about LE in Baltimore is pretty ugly too.

What a cesspool all the way around.

-----------------------------

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wTjwHgYKi8

some video from inside the apartment during the incident

note the shotgun aimed at the door

(does not include the actual shooting)

As far as I am concerned, once you point a gun at a PO, it is game over. So what is a cop supposed to think when the next person points a gun at them. Perhaps a little hesitation and then to PO is dead. Outrageous award IMO.

The stupid is strong over there.

Could be a blessing for a normal person- The means to get out of the jungle.

But they'll probably be in the news shortly as they waste the settlement.

All this over a misdemeanor warrant?