Ex-Austin Officer Who Fatally Shot Teen Reaches Settlement
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AUSTIN (AP) — A former Austin police officer will receive a payout from the city as part of a settlement stemming from the officer's fatal shooting of an unarmed, naked teenager early this year.
KVUE-TV reports former officer Geoffrey Freeman will receive $35,000 under the terms of the settlement, and the police department will not be obligated to rehire Freeman, who had appealed his March firing.
Freeman had responded Feb. 8 to reports of a naked man disturbing neighbors and running in the street. Seventeen-year-old David Joseph sprinted toward Freeman when he exited his patrol car. Freeman has said he feared for his life when he fired at the teen.
Police officials have said Freeman overreacted but a Travis County grand jury declined to indict him.
A federal lawsuit filed by the teen's family is pending.