Family of Amir Locke files lawsuit against city of Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS -- Just over a year after his death, family members of Amir Locke - who was killed by police during a no-knock raid in downtown Minneapolis - have filed a civil lawsuit against the city.
Locke, 22, was sleeping on a couch when a SWAT team entered the living room of his cousin's apartment in Bolero Flats. He woke up and grabbed a nearby handgun - which he was licensed to carry - and was shot three times by Officer Mark Hanneman.
Police were searching for a homicide suspect who was not home at the time. Locke was not a part of the investigation.
The lawsuit says that the city and Hanneman violated Locke's constitutional rights secured by the fourth and fourteenth amendments, as well a state law, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
"Our son's constitutional rights were violated. His life was unjustly taken," Locke's father Andre Locke said.
The suit alleges he was "gunned down in cold blood" and that Locke "demonstrated proper and responsible handling by keeping the handgun pointed away from the officers and keeping his finer off the trigger."
It alleges wrongful death among other violations while highlighting what attorney's call improper policies, procedures and training.
It details the disparity in Minneapolis police's treatment of Black and white residents, especially when it comes to use-of-force. The data - which says that 19% of Minneapolis' population is Black but 63% of MPD use-of-force incidents were against Black people - is sourced from a Minnesota Department of Human Rights report released last April, which found the city engaged in a pattern of "discriminatory, race-based policing."
The complaint alleges that Minneapolis "deliberately" failed to train officers to not engage in racist policing, along with high-risk warrant policies, and understanding the rights of innocent third parties during no-knock warrants.
"This lawsuit is going to help ensure that Minneapolis will account for this wrongful, unnecessary death," attorney Ben Crump said.
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The complaint also asks for a receiver - or similar authority - to make sure the city properly trains its officers and eliminates unconstitutional practices.
Ultimately, no charges were filed against Hanneman. Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said there was "insufficient admissible evidence" to file charges in the case.
Locke's death prompted calls for an overhaul in search warrant application and execution in the city, including the ban on no-knock warrants. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey limited the practice - with room for exceptions - in March, though he had falsely claimed he had "banned" no-knock warrants during his re-election campaign months before.
Locke's family, however, is hoping to see the ban enacted statewide, and eventually, nationwide.
"This has not to stop. Amir will be the face of banning no knock warrants. He will not die in vain," his mother Karen Wells said.
In a statement, the city said it would "review the Complaint when it receives it." WCCO has also reached out for a statement from the Minneapolis Police Department.
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