De'Onte Rawlings Attorney to ask for $100 Million
The Attorney for De'Onte Rawlings tells me that he is going to file a wrongful death suit against the Metropolitan Police Department and DC Government and he'll ask for in the neighborhood of $100 million dollars.
Greg Lattimer says his own investigation has concluded that De'Onte did not steal police officer James Haskel's mini bike which prompted Haskel and his police partner Anthony Clay to show up at Highland Dwellings on September 17Th.
Lattimer further claims his probe and the Medical Examiner's autopsy conclude that the 14 year old youth did not have a gun that night and did not fire at the officers.
Lattimer says he has confirmed from Highland dwelling neighbors that Officer Haskel and De'Onte Rawlings have had prior encounters; that Haskel has "harassed the boy" in the past about alleged drug activity and shootings in the area.
The Attorney says De'Onte was sitting on his own ten speed bike that night...and that he has talked to witnesses who say they saw the off duty cops circling the area in their personal vehicle and then later peering out the windows with their guns drawn and still later chasing De'Ontes into the "cut" where a single shot was heard.
Police contend that the officers were fired on first by De'Onte and did not have time to identify themselves as Officers.
The Autopsy report says Rawlings was killed by a single shot to the back of the head. It also says the teen suffered from numerous cuts and bruises caused by blunt force trauma.
Lattimer contends De'Onte was either physically beaten or struck by the officers vehicle before he fled and was shot. Police have said the teen was shot during a running gun battle with the officer.
A well connected police source argues the cuts and bruises could have resulted from his fall after being shot.
Greg Lattimer in our conversation Wednesday charges Police and Justice Department Officials have completed their preliminary report which is sitting on Police Chief Cathy Lanier's desk;
Police spokesperson Traci Hughes this afternoon said the DC Attorney General would respond once a lawsuit is filed. Hughes says there is no news on the Justice department investigation into the Rawlings slaying. She says the US Attorney and FBI are conducting the probe while MPD is looking into whether the officers followed administrative policy.
Hughes wouldn't confirm if there is a preliminary report on Police Chief's Cathy Lanier's desk.
Lattimer says he talked to as many as 30 people who claim to have seen police chasing De'Onte. Lattimer says his witnesses never saw the teen with a gun or on a mini bike. The medical examiner found no gun residue on the teen and the gun police say he was firing has not been recovered.
Lattimer says he'll file the 100 million dollar lawsuit on behalf of the Rawlings family next Thursday or the following Monday.
Meanwhile I talked with an elderly woman, Mary Whittaker, a 19 year resident at Highland Dwellings. She told me she was outside when De'Onte was killed. "I heard three shots" she said and then went into the house. Ms Whittaker says a number of people retreated quickly into their homes as they always do when they hear gunshots in the Southeast neighborhood.
posted by Bruce Johnson @ 11:16 AM
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27 Comments:
if everything comes out to be true that the youngman did not have a gun, then his family should get every penny the are seeking....and to hell with the 2 police officer,s.
It rips my heart apart when a child is harm in anyway. For these coward ass police officers that took that young mans life, need to be punished in the worst way. Forgive me for being so blunt, but I'm curious to know if they have kids of their own. The truth will be revealed. So it's best for the cops to come foward now.
And my heart goes out to the famiy. Nothing will bring the young man back, but I do hope the family receive closure very soon.
Isn't it a SHAME that every time one of DC's finest young people get killed, it doesn't matter if it is in a gun battle or running from the police in a stolen car, it is ALWAYS the "Straight A student" who was so caring and lovely to the community??? All you hear is "Little xxx was such a good kid, always respectful and well mannered" Blah-Blah-Blah Call a TURD a TURD. Scum bag hoodlums end up where they belong. Now you have two seasoned veteran Hero police officers being questioned in their judgement of enforcing the law and protecting themselves.
I pray that De'Ont's parents finds "peace" in knowing that their son was innocent & know that he is @ peace because of it. If police chief Lanier does not set a standard & make an example out of those two police officer's then the DC will loose even more respect. Lives are being taken by the DC's main source of protection. If you cannot trust the police then you have nothing ....
Police Chief Lanier please use this as a stepping stone to higher grounds & not a stumbling block to a lesser fate for your department. Stop the madness NOW !!
I'm sorry that I may anger some about this but I doubt very much that this 14yr old Boy had a Gun and shot at the police officer first.So where is this supposed Gun? If he shot at you then why hasn't it been proven,his hands would of shown powder residue.
Furthermore how could a Police Officer shoot a child in the back of the head? I call that nothing but a Coward.You sir(for lack of a better word) should be stripped of your Authority,you do not belong in the Police force nor the Community.
I wonder how do you sleep at night knowing you took a life without reason? Maybe you've convinced yourself and the other fellow police officer that was with you on that night it was something that had to be done?
I hope the Family gets every single Penny,although it won't bring back De'Onte a lesson will be Learned.
I thought that a police officer was supposed to stay with the victim and call for back-up when they shoot someone. If the police officers followed procedure and remained on the scene then why is there no gun, and the bike was not found near the victim. My guess is the bullet holes found in the officers vehicle were shot by them. Also, if the police officer thought it was his bike, due to the sensitivity of the nature of the crime and conflict, he should have summoned additional policemen to aid in the apprehension of the alleged victim and bike. It is unfortunate that today's young men are having no regard for their lives or others lives, and I realize it must be very frustrating for law officials to see this over and over again and probably come to the conclusion that one less on the street is one less they have to deal with, however, abuse of authority in any shape or form sends the wrong message and definitely does not help the situation. These police officers are not above the law, and should be treated accordingly if found guilty of this crime. This is not the OK Corral it is the streets of DC and there has to be another solution.
In the unlikely event that the kid was not in the wrong this time you can bet there are at least 1000 other crimes he has committed or been invloved in while in DC and was never caught until now. Looks like he paid the ultimate price for all of his prior and current crimes at once. If this is the life style one chooses to lead this is the price one may pay. It is a very high risk game to play and he was the loser this time.
The whole incident seems strange but I doubt if two MPOs would give up their careers and lives over a mini-bike. That neighborhood needs special attention.
Either someone else shot at them and they returned fire striking the young man on the bike or the young man shot at them and someone else picked up the gun after the officers left the scene. But, if the young man did nothing wrong his family should receive every penny they are seeking and the MPOs should be dismissed from their jobs.
So you want me to believe that 2 DC police officers, either ran over a kid sitting on his own bike or beat him, then shot him in the head, unprovoked? I would let the investigation run its course before writing a check.
It sad too see this young man gone from here over a damn bike, but I must say for the family you should have been doing right be De'Onte while he was alive because there is no real reason for him to have had several run in with no police anywhere. You knew this child was doing wrong in the street and it seem like no one was there to help him, now he's gone and all you want too do is profit off his death, which will not bring him back!!!!!
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE OF THE FACT IT IS SAD THAT THIS YOUNG MAN HAD TO DIE BUT GUESS WHAT KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF PEOPLE SHIT PEOPLE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FELL VICTIM TO THIS YOUNG MAN AND HIS CREW PEOPLE ARE SO AGAINST THE POLICE RIGHT NOW BUT IF THERE CAR OR HOUSE GOTTEN BROKEN INTO THE FIRST PERSON TO CALL WOULD BE THE POLICE. ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ARE GOING TO STICK TOGETHER IT IS ALWAYS THE PARENTS WHO ARE NOT AROUND THAT WANT TO SUE WHERE WERE THEY WHEN HE WAS DOING WHAT HE WAS DOING THIS YOUNG MAN WAS NOT A "A" STUDENT WHY DID THEY SKIP HIM TWO GRADES TO GET HIS ASS OUT OF HART JHS. PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP IT REAL WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.DONT TRY TO TALK BAD ABOUT THE POLICE NOW THAT THIS YOUNG MAN IS GONE TO HEAVEN.THESE TWO POLICE HAVE IT BAD RIGHT NOW AND THE CITY IS NOT SUPPORTING THEM I AM A FIRM BELEIVER IF THAT POLICE DID NOT DO IT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE.BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF LIFE HE WAS LIVING DO I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE DIED NO BUT WHEN YOU DO WRONG TO PEOPLE IT WILL COME BACK ON YOU. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO STOP BEING SCARED AND TALK UP THAT 100MILLION THAT IS DAD IS ASKING FOR THEY WILL NOT SEE A DIME OF IT.THE JUSTICE SYSTEM ALSO NEEDS TO STOP BEING SO EASY ON THESE DELINQUIENTS.
Live like a ghetto hoodlum, die like a ghetto hoodlum. Another ghetto wannabe killed because he ran with the wrong crowd and lived the ghetto lifestyle. The only person that's to blame is De'Ont, to bad he had to pay with his life.
MAYOR FENTY I AM STARTING TO RETHINK MY VOTE I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE WENT BY THIS THE WAY THAT YOU DID YOU ARE WRONG THE POLICE WAS NOT WRONG THESE KIDS NEED TO START THINKING BEFORE THEY REACT HIS FATHER DON'T NEED NO MONEY HIS ASS NEED TO GO TO JAIL FOR THE CRIMES HIS SON COMMITED IT IS NOT FAIR YOU ARE THE MAYOR YOU ARE SURPOSE TO SUPPORT YOUR WORKERS NOW LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON PEOPLE IS MAKING THREATH AT THE POLICE THIS SHIT IS CRAZY
No one knows what happend except those involved. If officers are guilty of murder than they should be put behind bars. Obviously something went wrong. I tend to believe in our police force and their judgment.
NOW I AM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY OF THIS YOUNG MAN. THIS WHOLE STORY TO ME SOUNDS STRANGE AND KNOW ONE IN THE COMMUNITY WANT TO SPEAK UP OUT OF FEAR, NOW YOU HAVE (2) "UNUNIFORMED OFFICERS" IN A DC PROJECTS AT NIGHT, SPOTS THE MINI BIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE CALLED FOR BACK UP THEN BEFORE APPROACHING THE SUBJECT, IF THE YOUNG MAN DIDN'T HAVE GUN POWDER ON HIS HANDS MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE SHOT AT THE OFFICERS UPON THEIR APPROACH, NOW THE OFFICER HAD A RIGHT TO FIRE BACK. SO WHERE DID THE BRUISE COME FROM IT'S ALOT TO BE INVESTIGATED IT SEEMS MORE TO THE STORY!!!
My heart goes out to this family.I believe that the police officers were wrong. To comment on some of these blogs, I don't think the mayor should be judge for doing what he thinks is right. The mayor before he was elected into office was saying something about accountablity. He wanted everyone to be held accountable even if it includes his workers. Wrong is wrong no matter who or what kind of job you have . These officers need to be punish for taking someone's child. No one knows what happened to this child the only thing anyone does know is that he is DEAD and at the hands of one of DC finest. Maybe he was a trouble kid but this child will NEVER be able to change his life around. No one can say that they have a perfect family because no one does, so to comment on why his father didn't do this or that still doesn't justify that these officers had to take his BABY.
Its unfortunate that information has been reported prior to the completion of the investigations. People will read what has been leaked and react as if it is fact, when the facts are yet to be disclosed. People will take sides and lay blame and as to which side is right. Some one died before thier tiem and that is the tragedy no matter how it led to this sad outcome.
I’m a full fledged Washingtonian and there has always been an issue with the DC Police committing crimes. I understand that they have to defend themselves, but to take a life “NO”. If someone were to go back and do research, DC Police have been drawn into numerous crimes in which they have had dealings with Big Time Drug Dealers( R. Edmonds, Murder Inc. etc.), the Prostitute Ring back in the 80’s early 90’s, so I don’t respect none of them because I don’t trust them. You can’t put all the bad apples in the same barrel, but you never know with them anymore. They no they were wrong for taking this kids life, they should go to jail. Regardless of this kid’s past he didn’t deserve to be taken away. Why did it take 2 off duty cops to find 1 missing bike, which they never even recovered? Why didn’t they just ask the young man about the bike? Why were they mad because the Mayor paid for this young man’s funeral? How can you shoot a gun and have no gun residue left on your hands? Too many questions and little answers given about this case. Justice needs to be served. Look at your police force Mr. Fenty, because your next go round won't be as successful.
Some of you folks are unbelievable. Did you not read the entire report? There was NO gun powder residue on his hands, therefore, he did NOT fire a weapon. The mini bike the officer claims was stolen was not found in the area nor was a gun. He was shot from behind. No matter how you look at it, those two officers were WRONG.
"Anonymous," It pains me to think that you are really in law enforcement but do not know how to correctly use the english language. "No one knows" not "know one knows." Also, just because the story is about a young man in the inner city, it does not mean that you have to use double and triple negatives in a single sentence.
As for the extremely racist comments and uneducated people, do not believe that the second you are in law enforcement you become a saint. Whether they were in the right or in the wrong, they killed a fellow human. Does that justify 100 million dollars? I do not have the answer, but as a person that pays taxes and has life insurance, it is these ridiculous lawsuits for sums of money far beyond the needs of the plaintiff that make me mad. There is no price tag for human life I realize that, but 100 million dollars is a settlement price that does not seem appropriate. Maybe they could get Roy Pearson to represent them. After all he sure did a bang up job with his ridiculous claim for the 54 million dollar pair of pants.
When will people in today’s society start to live within their means and understand that just because the spoiled athletes and musicians flaunt their endless (and senseless) wealth, you don’t need millions to live happily. People argue for saving the environment yet drive uselessly waist money on products that require thousands of man hours and natural resources to produce. Try living in a house that fits your needs and not a house that fits your ego.
Sorry for the rant.
These comments demonstrate how concerned the DC area is over this incident and underscores how important it is for authorities to complete their investigation and to get it right. Our viewers are sensitive and intelligent when it comes to these matters. Whatever the findings, I'm convinced if accompanied by the proper evidence and witness accounts, people will honestly weigh them, then expect some changes on a number of fronts in the police department and the community; then move on...There will be much to learn from this, I'm sure.
Both officers need to be fired on the spot; why should they keep getting paid by our tax dollars when all evidence is pointing to the fact that they did wrong. Why. Because one officer had bad feelings toward this young man; and I bet you that officer who is just a friend and thought he was helping his friend do wrong wished he could turn back the hands of time.
Okay! So he ran with the wrong crowd. When you are a victim of living in public housing, you fall into trouble, not saying all kids, but most of them do. I'm going to leave you with this. What if it were your child's life taken by the hands of Law Enforcement?
I DISAGREE WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS PEOPLE ARE POSTING. HOW CAN YOU SAY LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING YOU ARE A VICTIM! THAT IS NOT TRUE I LIVED IN PUBLIC HOUSING BUT GUESS WHAT I HAVE MY OWN MIND CANT NOBODY MAKE ME DO ANYTHING I DON'T WANT TO DO.WE ARE ALL MAKING ALL THESE COMMENTS ABOUT WHO SHOULD GET WHAT DONE TO THEM AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS YOUNG MAN WE ARE ONLY GETTING DETAILS THEY WANT TO GIVE WE ARE NOT HEARING EVERYTHING JUDGEMENT DAY IS COMING FOR THE TWO OFFICERS AND IT IS SAD JUDGEMENT DAY HAD TO END THIS WAY FOR DE'ONTE BUT IT HAPPENED NOW ALL WE CAN ALL DO IS SIT BACK AND LISTEN TO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.IF YOU LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT NEWS CHANNELS THEY ARE ALL SAYING DIFFERENT STUFF "THE BIKE WAS FOUND THE NEXT DAY IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD THE DAY AFTER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW I WAS THERE"IT IS JUST SO MANY DETAILS GOING AROUND MOST ARE MYTHS AND SOME ARE TRUE. THE POLICE WAS WRONG FOR SHOOTING THIS YOUNG MAN IN THE HEAD BUT LOOK AT WHERE THEY WERE SOMEBODY DID SHOOT AT THEM BUT GUESS WHAT NO ONE IS GOING TO TELL THIS IS REALLY CRAZY BECAUSE IF THIS WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND PEOPLE WOULD BE SINGING LIKE A CHURCH CHOIR OR IF THIS YOUNG MAN SHOT THERE FAMILY MEMBER PEOPLE WOULD BE TALKING LIFE IS CRAZY.I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS IF THE POLICE DID IT THE WAY ALL THE OPINION ARE GOING AROUND THEN GUESS WHAT THEY WILL PAY THE PRICE NOT BY NONE OF THE PEOPLE SENDING THESE BLOGS BY THE MAN UP ABOVE ALL WE CAN SAY IS DE'ONTE RIP AND MAY GOD BE WITH YOU
Deonte did not live in public housing.
He may have bruises from a fight.
These cops must feel horrible...they obviously screwed up...but i don't think that they killed this young man for a bike..there is more to this. Doesn't anyone wonder why the neighborhood hasn't totally gone crazy if this kid did not have a gun? My hunch (and only a hunch because i was not there), he shot at the cops or someone did and the entire neighborhood is afraid of this person, who would most likely be a teenager.It's all ver sad. my prayers go to the family and the police and the community!
WrtrMF actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
My prayers go out to the family of De'Onte and the police officers. This child was known for carrying a gun and was not afraid to use it, but it's still sad that he died the way that he did. The old saying was "you live by a gun and you will die by one". In the meantime, I am going to sit back and await the outcome of the investigation.
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