One year after Akron Police Officer Davon Fields fatally shot a 15-year-old boy, his family filed a federal lawsuit against the city.
Tucker's family held a press conference on Tuesday to discuss the lawsuit.
"Jazmir will leave a legacy of love," Efrem Frazier, Tucker’s great uncle, said. "This was not someone who hated. This was a 15-year-old boy who loved his grandmother, who loved his mother, who loved his brother. He didn’t deserve this."
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In addition to the city, the complaint also names Fields, several other members of the Akron Police Department and Akron Mayor Shammas Malik.
The lawsuit alleges unconstitutional use of force and municipal liability for training and oversight failures, among other claims.
"They waited eight minutes to render aid. Eight minutes," Stanley Jackson, attorney for Tucker’s
family, said.
Attorneys for the Tucker family are also calling for “mandatory de-escalation and constitutional use of force training, clear restriction on rifle deployment and foot pursuits, and real civilian oversight backed by subpoena power” within the police department.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial to consider compensatory, consequential and punitive damages. It also seeks policy reform at the Akron Police Department.
"This community deserves better, this family definitely deserves better. This lawsuit is just one step in that direction, and we will be relentless," Jackson said. “We appreciate the continued support of the community.”
Read the lawsuit:
Jazmir Tucker was shot and killed last Thanksgiving while officers were investigating the sound of gunfire in the East Avenue area.
RELATED: Police: 15-year-old boy shot, killed by officer in Akron
Officer Fields shot Tucker after an encounter led to a foot chase. A gun was found zipped up in Tucker's jacket.
Police said shell casings found at the scene matched the gun found on the teen.
However, attorneys for the Tucker family said a gun was never pointed at the officer and teen was shot while running away.
"He was shot two times in the back," said Robert Gresham, an attorney for Tucker’s family.
"This family is full of love. Jazmir was kind of the light and love of that," Gresham added. "Imagine what it’s like to lose your child on a holiday, then have to go through that holiday the next year."
In October, a special grand jury chose not to indict Fields on a charge of murder.
Following the grand jury's decision, Brian Lucey, president of Akron FOP Lodge #7 said the grand jury confirmed that the officer followed his training and acted lawfully, and "the cause of the tragedy was a teenager carrying and firing a loaded semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine that he was not permitted to carry."
RELATED: Special grand jury chooses not to indict Akron officer who killed Jazmir Tucker
News 5 reached out to the mayor's office, the police department and the Akron police union to get reaction to the lawsuit. All have declined to comment.
