The family of a man shot and killed by a Connecticut police officer during a confrontation has filed a wrongful death lawsuit and called for a federal civil rights investigation into the incident. The incident involved the fatal shooting of Mike Alexander-Garcia Jr. by a police officer in West Hartford in August 2023 while he was attempting to flee in a stolen vehicle despite being attacked by a police dog.
At a news conference, Alexander-Garcia’s mother and sister, along with their legal representatives, criticized the officer’s actions, alleging racial profiling by the West Hartford police during the deadly confrontation. They emphasized their pursuit of justice and accountability for the incident.
The lawsuit, filed in state court, names West Hartford Officer Andrew Teeter, the police department, and the town, accusing them of violating Alexander-Garcia’s constitutional rights, state laws, and police policies. The family’s lawyers have indicated they are seeking damages that could exceed $75 million.
The shooting is currently under investigation by the state inspector general’s office, responsible for reviewing all cases involving deadly force by police to determine if criminal charges are necessary. The town of West Hartford has stated its commitment to police accountability and transparency, mentioning that the lawsuit contains allegations yet to be proven since the matter is still under investigation.
The series of events leading to the shooting began when police were alerted to a stolen car by a license plate reader on August 8, 2023. The stolen car was chased by officers before crashing into other vehicles, leading to Alexander-Garcia fleeing the scene. He attempted to carjack two vehicles before ultimately sitting in a sport utility vehicle at a tire shop.
Surveillance footage and body-camera video showed the officer releasing a police dog into the SUV and ultimately shooting Alexander-Garcia multiple times as he attempted to drive away. The lawsuit alleges that Alexander-Garcia was surrendering when he was shot and that the officer’s actions were not justified.
Alexander-Garcia’s family’s lawyers have also raised concerns about racial disparities in traffic stops by the West Hartford police department, citing data from state reports. Efforts have been made to request a federal civil rights investigation into the matter. Despite these disparities in traffic stops by race and ethnicity, the state reports do not definitively conclude evidence of racial profiling.