FRESNO (KMJ) – A federal jury has found that two San Jose police officers used excessive force when they fatally shot a man as he experienced a suicidal breakdown in front of his home three years ago.
The Mercury News reports the verdict announced Tuesday by a six-member jury panel also recommended a $2.6 million award to the family of 18-year-old Anthony Nunez.
Nunez’s family called police on July 4, 2016 to report he had shot himself on the head with a handgun. the self-inflicted gunshots were, miraculously, not fatal.
Jurors rejected the official police account that Nunez had pointed a gun at the officers before they each fired a shot, killing him.
A San Jose city attorney said that the city was not ready to announce appeal plans. A follow-up hearing was scheduled for July 11.
