SPOKANE, Wash. — The family of Kerry Jones-Hillburg, the man who was shot and killed by a Spokane police officer after an altercation inside Walmart has filed a tort claim against the City of Spokane.
According to the tort claim form, the family has filed a wrongful death claim against the City of Spokane, . The claim, submitted to the Spokane City Clerk’s Office on Jan. 7, seeks damages exceeding $50 million and accuses the city of civil rights violations and negligent police practices.
According to the claim, Jones-Hilburg was unlawfully detained, assaulted and fatally shot by Spokane police officers at the Walmart located in North Spokane. The filing also said and alleges that the police officers at the scene failed to de-escalate the situation and shot Jones-Hilburg without justification as he was running away.
According to the filing, the estate is represented by attorneys Rondi Thorp, David Turplesmith, and Jodi Thorp of Meyer Thorp Attorneys at Law, PLLC. The claim lists Jones-Hilburg’s father, Scott Allen Jones, as the personal representative of the estate, along with his minor children, whose names were not disclosed to protect their privacy
The tort filing also said and accuses the Spokane Police Department of a pattern of excessive force and inadequate internal investigations, citing past police-involved shootings, including the deaths of and . The claim alleges that despite these incidents, the city has failed to implement meaningful changes in police procedures.
The family said that they intend to pursue claims of wrongful death, civil rights violations and punitive damages, saying that the city’s ongoing failure to address what it describes as “improper police shootings” and a lack of accountability within the department.
The filling said that the City of Spokane has 60 days to respond to the claim. If no resolution is reached, a lawsuit will be filed.
