Emilia Espinoza filed a $5 million lawsuit against the Levelland Police Department last week related to the deadly officer-involved shooting of Jose Antonio Espinoza-Ruiz (listed as Jose Antonio Espinoza in the lawsuit).
According to a news release at the time, in January of 2015, two officers responded to the report of a disturbance in a home near the intersection of 15th Street and Avenue A. Officers said Espinoza came out of the home while brandishing a knife.
The officers then fired their guns at Espinoza, and he later died.
“This is an action for Constitutional violations and state law personal injuries suffered by [Emilia Espinosa] as a result of the personal injury, and wrongful death of … Jose Espinoza.”
The lawsuit said Mr. Espinoza was deprived of his constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.
The lawsuit also claimed that officers denied Espinoza proper medical care after the shooting. Specific details were not provided for that allegation.
The lawsuit claimed police condone the use of excessive force and there is a policy of “cover up” concerning “police beatings and killing.” But again, specific details were not provided for the allegation.
The Levelland Police Chief was not available for comment Monday, and the City of Levelland has not yet filed its side of the story in court records.
