Southern California family files lawsuit after young father shot and killed by police

3 months ago 5

Loved ones are calling for justice after an unarmed Southern California man was shot and killed by police.

A young father of two, Jimmy Lopez, 26, was killed by Hemet police officers on July 4. Family members are now filing a lawsuit against the police department.

On that night, police received a call from a bar in downtown Hemet that an intoxicated man had left the bar while carrying what appeared to be a handgun in his pants.

Officers arrived at the scene and spotted Lopez on the 200 block of East Florida Avenue at around 1:40 a.m. As police made contact with him, a confrontation ensued and Lopez was fatally shot by police.

Investigators later confirmed Lopez was carrying an airsoft pistol at the time and not a firearm.

Hemet police said bodycam footage showed Lopez had allegedly pointed the airsoft gun at officers and that “there was no way for officers to know that at the time” the weapon wasn’t a handgun.