Calif. Woman Sues Police for Death Of 15-Year-Old Son

July 25, 2011
A teenager was shot dead after crashing a stolen car into a Bakersfield police patrol car, and now his mom is suing the city as well as Bakersfield police officers.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. --

A teenager was shot dead after crashing a stolen car into a Bakersfield police patrol car, and now his mom is suing the city as well as Bakersfield police officers.

Police said 15-year-old Traveon John Avila was shot by Bakersfield police officers Timothy Berchtold and Noah Landers on July 9, 2010 in the 1400 block of Windsor Street.

Bakersfield Police Department Sgt. Mary DeGeare said Avila led the officers on a car chase after the officers tried to stop him for driving a stolen vehicle.

The chase ended on a dead-end street where Avila attempted to back the car into the officers as they walked up to him. That's when they shot Avila multiple times, killing him, according to DeGeare.

According to the complaint, Avila's mother, Yetunda Wright, states that the police officers had no probable cause to stop Avila and that it violated his 4th Amendment rights.

According to the complaint, Wright seeks to recover general and special damages, including but not limited to medical expenses and physical, mental and emotional pain, shock, agony and suffering, in an amount according to proof at trial.

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