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Houston, TX agrees to pay $1.5 million settlement in wrongful death lawsuit.
Houston, TX: (May-29-08) The parents of Eli Eloy Escobar Jr., a 14-year-old unarmed teenager, brought a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Houston, after their son was shot to death in 2003 by a rookie police officer. Records of the incident reveal that Eli was killed in November 2003 by rookie officer Arthur J. Carbonneau, who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide.
Investigations revealed that Carbonneau deliberately shot Escobar as the teen fought with him and Officer Ronald Olivo outside a friend's northwest Houston apartment. Carbonneau contended the shooting was accidental. Police said the two officers were trying to handcuff and subdue Escobar because he would not follow their commands. They were allegedly looking for a suspect in an earlier assault. Following that, Carbonneau drew his weapon after Escobar kicked him in the groin, the teen kicked the officer's arm and the pistol fired, hitting him in the head.
As part of a settlement reached in the case, the city agreed to pay the family $1.5 million to resolve the wrongful death allegations. Under the deal, the police department has instituted a new rule, the Escobar Rule named in honor of the slain teen that states an officer must keep his finger off the trigger of a gun until the officer has made a conscious decision to shoot.
Search for: Parents Discuss City Settlement in Son's Accidental Death
Published on Jun-6-08
Investigations revealed that Carbonneau deliberately shot Escobar as the teen fought with him and Officer Ronald Olivo outside a friend's northwest Houston apartment. Carbonneau contended the shooting was accidental. Police said the two officers were trying to handcuff and subdue Escobar because he would not follow their commands. They were allegedly looking for a suspect in an earlier assault. Following that, Carbonneau drew his weapon after Escobar kicked him in the groin, the teen kicked the officer's arm and the pistol fired, hitting him in the head.
As part of a settlement reached in the case, the city agreed to pay the family $1.5 million to resolve the wrongful death allegations. Under the deal, the police department has instituted a new rule, the Escobar Rule named in honor of the slain teen that states an officer must keep his finger off the trigger of a gun until the officer has made a conscious decision to shoot.
Houston, TX in the News
[MY FOX HOUSTON: Houston, TX]Search for: Parents Discuss City Settlement in Son's Accidental Death
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