In a recent development, a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Kevin Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old black male who was fatally shot by police in 2020, has been settled by a Washington state county.
The county has agreed to pay $1.25 million to Peterson's family. Peterson, who was involved in drug dealing and was armed with a 0.40 caliber pistol, was shot by Clark County sheriff's deputies during a regional drug bust operation in Vancouver, a city just north of Portland, Oregon.
According to The Post Millennial, Peterson's death ignited violent protests by Black Lives Matter and Antifa in the Pacific Northwest. A judge was eventually compelled to resign after accurately predicting the outcome of the case: Peterson's family would leverage their son's criminal background to secure compensation from taxpayers, portraying him as a martyr for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Clark County Sheriff's Office has consistently stated that Peterson brandished a firearm and aimed it at deputies before they retaliated on October 29, 2020. Deputies from the drug task force had arranged a sting operation, expecting Peterson to deliver 50 Xanax pills to a motel parking lot. Upon realizing the setup, Peterson fled the scene, allegedly dropping his firearm. Despite orders from deputies not to retrieve his gun, Peterson disregarded their commands. He then ran to a nearby closed bank where he was shot and killed, as per court documents.
A prosecutor from Pierce County exonerated the two deputies involved, deeming the shooting "justified and lawful." However, an independent investigation by the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team in Cowlitz County found no evidence suggesting that Peterson fired his weapon at law enforcement. Deputies reportedly fired approximately 34 rounds at Peterson, but investigators did not find any 0.40 caliber casings at the scene.
In May 2022, the Peterson estate filed a lawsuit accusing Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins and the involved deputies of wrongful death, negligence, and excessive force. Despite Clark County's attempts to dismiss the suit, a federal trial judge ruled in 2023 that the lawsuit could proceed. The US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the county in July, and a jury trial date was set for November 12 in Tacoma before the parties agreed to settle.
While the Clark County Manager's Office has maintained that Peterson pointed a pistol at deputies after being ordered to surrender, they welcomed the settlement, stating it "allows the parties to move on from this unfortunate event."
Mark Lindquist, the family's attorney, contested the county's claims, stating that deputies fired the first round of shots at Peterson as he was fleeing the scene. Lindquist added that deputies involved in the shooting allegedly mistook Peterson's cell phone for a firearm. However, The Post Millennial has not seen evidence to support the attorney's claim.
Clark County Sheriff John Horch affirmed his support for his deputies' actions on the day of the incident. "While the loss of life is always tragic, I fully support the actions of my deputies, who acted in accordance with their training and the law to protect themselves and our community," Sheriff Horch stated. "We will continue to focus on our mission to serve and protect. I stand firmly behind the men and women of the Clark County Sheriff's Office."
Deputy Robert Anderson explained to investigators that he made the split-second decision to fire at Peterson because the suspect, armed with a pistol and refusing orders, was about to run into more sheriff's deputies. Anderson stated that Peterson was considered a safety threat at that time due to his noncompliance.
In February 2023, Clark County District Court Judge Darvin Zimmerman was forced to resign after he was caught on a hot mic discussing the case with District Court Commissioner Abigail Bartlett. Unaware that his courtroom was live on YouTube, Judge Zimmerman referred to Peterson as "the black guy they are trying to make an angel out of" and someone who "had a death wish." He also made comments about Peterson's father, Kevin Sr., saying that he woke up the next day "with dollar signs in his eyes and George Floyd's attorneys."
Black Lives Matter and Antifa activists celebrated Peterson as a "martyr" and rioted over his death for several consecutive weeks, with many protesters crossing the river from Portland, Oregon into Vancouver, Washington. These far-left activists attempted to portray Peterson as an innocent black victim killed by law enforcement, despite the fact that police had been investigating Peterson for valid reasons.
Peterson was a suspected gang member and drug dealer who frequently flaunted drugs and large amounts of cash on social media. He had posted at least once advocating for police to be killed. Peterson also self-identified as a racist, specifically against white people, according to his social media posts.
Peterson had posted on Snapchat that he would shoot police if they caught him in the "act." He also posted a photo of drugs on his Snapchat, suggesting that they were for sale. In the months and weeks leading up to his death, Peterson made a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, implying his involvement in illegal activities. His X account, under the moniker @_splashkp, has since been deleted.
Following Peterson's death, a vigil was held on October 31, 2020, where hundreds of black bloc rioters marched through downtown Vancouver, assaulting police, shattering windows, setting dumpsters on fire, blocking traffic, and vandalizing businesses with graffiti. This direct action resulted in several arrests. Protests surrounding his death continued for more than a year, and his name is still invoked by BLM activists to this day.
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