(DailyAnswer.org) – In Washington state, Clark County has agreed to pay $1.25 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Kevin Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old Black man shot and killed by police in 2020. The incident took place in Vancouver, Washington, just across the river from Portland, Oregon, during a drug sting operation.
According to authorities, Peterson, a suspected drug dealer, was armed with a .40 caliber pistol at the time of the incident. Police say Peterson pointed the gun at deputies, prompting them to fire. On October 29, 2020, deputies had arranged to meet Peterson at a motel parking lot, where he was supposed to deliver 50 Xanax pills. When Peterson realized it was a setup, he fled, dropping his gun along the way. Despite police orders not to retrieve it, Peterson allegedly picked the weapon back up and ran toward an old bank, where deputies fatally shot him.
A prosecutor later cleared the deputies, concluding the shooting was justified. However, an independent investigation found no evidence that Peterson had fired his gun. Investigators reported that deputies shot at Peterson about 34 times, but no .40 caliber casings from Peterson’s weapon were found at the scene.
The Peterson family filed a lawsuit in 2022, accusing the sheriff’s department of using excessive force and negligence. Clark County tried to get the case dismissed, but the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it could proceed. A trial was scheduled for November 2023, but the county chose to settle instead.
The sheriff’s office has stood by the actions of the deputies. Sheriff John Horch stated, “While any loss of life is tragic, our deputies acted within the law to protect the public.”
The incident sparked protests, with Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists holding Peterson up as a symbol of police violence. Riots in Vancouver spilled over from Portland, with protesters clashing with police, setting fires, and vandalizing property.
Adding to the controversy, a judge involved in the case resigned after making disparaging remarks about Peterson on a live mic, calling him a “criminal” and accusing the family of exploiting his death for financial gain.
Peterson’s social media showed him posing with drugs, cash, and firearms. He also made posts expressing anti-police and racist views. Despite the controversy surrounding his death, Peterson is still mentioned by activists as a victim of police violence.
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