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The family of the man who was shot dead by a Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy was awarded $30.5 million by a federal ju judge on Wednesday in one of California’s largest police gun shootings.
Unarmed Mickel Lewis Sr. passed away on October 2, 2020 after being shot five times by Deputy Jason Ayala. His family said he was shot in the back and died in the street after being pulled at a “unjust” stop.
Lewis’ family filed civil complaints against Ayala, Kern County in the Eastern District of California, and several unnamed defendants. They alleged excessive and unreasonable power, batteries, negligence and civil rights violations.
The ry judge agreed to the claim and awarded $5 million for the loss of life, $1 million for Lewis’s pre-death pain and suffering, and $24.5 million for the children of illegal death.
Toni Jaramira, a civil rights lawyer who represented Lewis Sr.’s family, said he believes it is the second highest ju verdict award in the state’s police shooting case.
“This is Fresno’s biggest verdict on a police shooting,” she said in a statement.
According to the complaint, 39-year-old Lewis Sr. was drawn to a “unfair vehicle stop” and was later shot in the back.
According to the complaint, Ayala allegedly failed to provide emergency medical care and caution before Lewis died on the street.
No out-of-hour calls were returned for comments to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.
The complaint also alleges threats and harassment by multiple agents, with multiple agents gathering near the Lewis Sr. memorial to monitor his family when they gathered.
Sheriff’s officials say Ayala believes that Lewis, who had previously been convicted of multiple convictions, is on probation and may have had a gun when he stopped him.
According to Jaramira, the defendant allegedly at trial that Lewis arrived under the seat of the car for a gun and threatened to kill Ayala. They said he hid his right hand behind his back and faced Ayala between all the shots.
Jaramira said Ayala’s testimony was countered by eyewitnesses, physical and forensic evidence and the trajectory of gunshots.
In November 2020, it was found that Ayala’s use of force office review in the incident was “within the scope of departmental policies.”
According to Jaramilla, the trial lasted five days, with ju judges deliberating for about 45 hours.
“We are grateful that this Fresno ju apprentice has shown tribute to the life of Mickel Lewis Sr., a 39-year-old unarmed African-American father, who was shot five times in the back by a deputy sheriff who refused to use deadly force.
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