A federal judge has made a decision favoring the family of a Black man who was fatally shot by a white police detective in Kansas City, Missouri. U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips ruled that the detective violated the man’s Fourth Amendment rights by entering his backyard without a warrant in 2019.
The judge, however, did not come to a conclusion on whether the shooting was an excessive use of force. Additionally, she postponed deliberations on any potential damages in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against the Kansas City police board and the detective.
The attorney representing Cameron Lamb’s family expressed hope that this ruling would lead the police board to acknowledge the tragedy and provide justice for Lamb’s family.
The detective responsible for the shooting is now serving a six-year prison sentence after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in 2021. The incident occurred when Lamb was returning home and was shot as he was pulling into his backyard.
During the trial, it was revealed that the detective claimed to have shot in defense of his partner’s life, yet conflicting accounts from witnesses and lack of evidence led to the judge’s decision to not grant a summary judgment on the use of excessive force.
The case has garnered attention during racial injustice protests in Kansas City, with DeValkenaere, the convicted officer, receiving support from Republican lawmakers and initiatives for a potential pardon.
Despite appeals for a reversal of his conviction, including backing from the Missouri Attorney General, DeValkenaere’s conviction was upheld, and efforts for clemency continue from his family and supporters. The outgoing Missouri Governor and candidates vying for his position have expressed varying levels of support for reviewing the case.
The Kansas City police department has refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the case.
