Lifestyle

‘I don’t want this to happen again’: Protesters lose eyes from Minneapolis police bullets Reach $2.4 million settlement – WCCO


MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The City of Minneapolis will pay more than $2 million to a man who went blind in one eye after being shot by a police officer with a less-lethal bullet during a protest.

Soren Stevenson lost sight of the bullet that hit him. As part of the deal, the city will pay him $2.4 million.

READ MORE: ‘Police misconduct comes with a heavy price’: Checking out Minneapolis settlements

Stevenson joins protesters in the days following the killing of George Floyd. The recent master’s graduate from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs felt compelled to join a peaceful protest.

Stevenson said: “Looking around, it was amazing where I was, what I was seeing, what was happening. “And then I got shot.”

The Instagram video shows moments after he was hit by a police bullet, which was used as a less-lethal ring. It changed his life forever.

Stevenson said: “I woke up this morning and wiped the blood from my eyes, and I have done it every morning for the past two years. “It affects me every day, and it will continue to affect me every day.”

Soren Stevenson (credit: CBS)

Stevenson required surgery to fracture his face and remove his eye. He said he also has PTSD.

He sued three officersincluding the officer his attorney believes fired the shot that caused him to lose vision in his left eye.

“Defendant Bauer admitted that he was one of the potential shooters,” said attorney Katie Bennett with Robins Kaplan.

The City of Minneapolis will pay Stevenson $2.4 million, without admitting liability as part of the settlement.

“I just want them to act. I don’t want this to happen again, and I don’t want the city’s funds to be wasted on lawsuits,” Stevenson said. “I just want to be safe.”

Attorneys are still looking to the city to pay their legal fees, which could be in the seven figures.

In the nearly two years following the murder of George Floyd, the city paid at least $29.6 million to settlements for officer conduct. There are several other pending lawsuits against the city for injuries that have occurred during the protests.



Source link

news7h

News7h: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button