Maryland Accident Law Blog
In Maryland, the mother of a 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed by police on August 12 has hired an attorney and is claiming that his death was a wrongful death situation.
Baltimore police say that Officer Roderick Mitter shot and killed Kevin Cooper outside his home in Southwest Baltimore after Cooper hit him and threatened him with a jagged, broken broom handle. Police say that Cooper’s mother, a state correctional officer, had called police, told them that her son was assaulting her, and asked police to come to her home on Font Avenue.
Officer Mitter says that he first tried apprehending Cooper, who was assaulting him, with Mace. He alleges that the boy then moved toward him with the broom handle, so he shot Cooper on the shoulder.
Cooper was pronounced dead at St. Agnes Hospital, while Mitter was treated for his injuries at Mercy Medical Center.
A. Dwight Petit, The attorney for Cooper’s mother, says that mother and son were involved in a verbal argument only and that she had called police to calm down the discussion.
Petit says that Cooper never attacked the officer, and that it was Mitter who harassed the teenager, assaulted him with Mace and then shot him.
When someone’s death is caused by the negligent or wrongful actions of another person, filing a wrongful death claim may be appropriate. A wrongful death lawsuit allows surviving family members to be receive compensation for the death of their loved one.
Family members who can file a wrongful death suit:
– The wife or husband of the deceased
– The parents of a child who has died
– A child for the death of a parent
If you have lost someone you love in a wrongful death situation, a personal injury attorney can assist you with your claim. Contact the law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen for more information.
Policeman Shoots, Kills 14-Year-Old Boy, Baltimoresun.com, August 13, 2006
Related Web Resources:
Shooting Puts Focus On Police Decisions, Baltimoresun.com, August 15, 2006
Summary Of Wrongful Death And Intestacy Statues For Maryland (pdf)
Inquest.com, Death By Police Shooting