City Settles with Victim of Local Cop Shooting
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: July 12, 2012
September 25th, 2011, around 2 a.m., 90 year old Willie Williams and police exchanged fire.
Police were responding to a suspected robbery in Williams' apartment complex when, according to court documents, officers mistakenly broke out Williams' window instead of a neighbor's.
Police on the scanner that night say that three loud verbal cues were given before entering the house. Williams shot at police first after believing his apartment was being broken into, then police shot back. One of the shots hit Williams in the chest. He was taken to the hospital and treated with non-life threatening injuries.
The incident was once again brought up at the City Council meeting on Thursday for the vote. "Legal met with us this morning and recommended that we settle, considerably less than they had asked for," said Mayor Robertson. The exact number Williams and his attorney asked for was not released. The agreed upon settlement was $76,000. Mayor Robertson said even though the city settled, they were not admitting fault. "We hate to settle lawsuits because it almost gives an indication to sue, but when we look at the cost of carrying this forward, even though we felt that the city had very firm ground, you have to look at economics and it was cheaper to settle than it was to fight," said Mayor Robertson.
KLBK reached out to Williams' attorney, Charles Dunn, who was unable to comment about the settlement.
Police were responding to a suspected robbery in Williams' apartment complex when, according to court documents, officers mistakenly broke out Williams' window instead of a neighbor's.
Police on the scanner that night say that three loud verbal cues were given before entering the house. Williams shot at police first after believing his apartment was being broken into, then police shot back. One of the shots hit Williams in the chest. He was taken to the hospital and treated with non-life threatening injuries.
The incident was once again brought up at the City Council meeting on Thursday for the vote. "Legal met with us this morning and recommended that we settle, considerably less than they had asked for," said Mayor Robertson. The exact number Williams and his attorney asked for was not released. The agreed upon settlement was $76,000. Mayor Robertson said even though the city settled, they were not admitting fault. "We hate to settle lawsuits because it almost gives an indication to sue, but when we look at the cost of carrying this forward, even though we felt that the city had very firm ground, you have to look at economics and it was cheaper to settle than it was to fight," said Mayor Robertson.
KLBK reached out to Williams' attorney, Charles Dunn, who was unable to comment about the settlement.
