Sentenced: Deontrace Ward, Files $2.35m Lawsuit Against The Cop Who Shot Him In The Back As He Was Fleeing A House He Had Just Robbed

[Sugar Cookie]

A black teenager is suing the white Virginia police officer who shot him in the back as he was fleeing a burglary scene in a shocking $2.35million lawsuit.

Deontrace Ward, 19, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday morning against Portsmouth Police Officer Jeremy Durocher in Portsmouth Circuit Court.

Durocher, a rookie cop, was not in his police uniform when he shot Ward on October 29, 2017 while he was responding to a report of a burglary, in an incident all caught on the officer's body camera.

The officer saw Ward running away from the scene and opened fire. Two first shots missed Ward and the third hit him square in the back.

'As [Ward] hopped over a fence, [Durocher] steadied himself and as if hunting wild game, took careful aim at [Ward] and fired two more shots at [Ward] as [Ward] continued to run away,' the lawsuit says.

He was hit by at least two bullets and suffered 'serious and debilitating' injuries, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed by Attorney S.W. Dawson, alleges Durocher exhibited gross negligence and battery in the incident.

Officer Durocher said after the incident he opened fire because he saw a gun in the man's hands. However, Ward denied ever pulling the weapon, even though one was found in his right pant leg.

The lawsuit says that Durocher never identified himself as a police officer and was not in uniform. It also says that Durocher never ordered Ward to drop his weapon.

It alleges that Durocher acted as 'judge, jury and nearly executioner' and that Ward wants 'personal justice'.

'The central issue in this case is whether my client had a gun in his hand as he ran away. We believe the video is clear that he did not,' Dawson said.

Following the incident, Ward pleaded guilty in June 2018 to breaking into a home on the 1100 block of Tatem Avenue and stealing jewelry and illegally possessing a firearm, according to The Virginia-Pilot. He is currently serving a six-year sentence in jail.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...-police-officer-shot-videotaped-incident.html

 

[Sejanus]

Next time just kill the scum.

 

[Craygor]

... he opened fire because he saw a gun in the man's hands. However, Ward denied ever pulling the weapon, even though one was found in his right pant leg.

Contrary to popular belief shooting a fleeing who is armed with a gun is permissible even if they are not pointing the weapon at anyone, the reason is the criminal could easily find a cover and begin shooting, which is a danger to both the public and police. Preventing a criminal from attempting to place themselves in a position of protection is permissible. Now, the real question in this situation is, did the officer know he was armed?

 

[Sugar Cookie]

A police shooting has led to a $200,000 settlement in Portsmouth.

Officer Jeremy Durocher shot Deontrace Lamont Ward in the back, as Ward tried to get away from police on October 29, 2017. Video obtained by The Virginian-Pilot shows Durocher wounding Ward, who was an armed burglary suspect. Ward was shot in the back. Durocher claimed Ward had waved a gun at the time of the shooting.

Ward survived and later entered a guilty plea to several charges in 2018.

Ward filed a civil lawsuit against Durocher, for which the settlement was announced on Wednesday.

Ward is currently in prison for the burglary, while Durocher still faces assault charges for the shooting.

$200,000 settlement reached for Portsmouth police shooting

Investigators say Officer Jeremy Durocher shot Deontrace Ward during a burglary investigation in 2017. Ward was shot in the back. Durocher claims Ward waved a gun.

www.13newsnow.com

 

[Sugar Cookie]

December 8, 2023

After a four-day trial, a jury has determined that Portsmouth Police Officer Jeremy Durocher is not guilty.

He was facing a gun and malicious wounding charge for allegedly shooting 18-year-old Deontrace Ward three times back in 2017.

The teenager burglarized a Portsmouth home and had a fully loaded gun on him while he tried to escape officers by running through a Portsmouth residential neighborhood.

Ward was convicted for his role in the burglary and served time in prison.

Officers in attendance applauded when the verdict was read. On Wednesday, Portsmouth police officers lined the seats in the courtroom's gallery as a show of support during Durocher's emotional testimony.

The Portsmouth Fraternal Order of Police Gosport Lodge #20 released a statement Thursday night in support of Durocher, saying they are "thrilled" at the verdict.

"We are happy to report that Officer Durocher is excited about the verdict and eager to get back to work and serve the city which he promised to protect and serve nearly seven years ago," the statement said.

Officers applaud as jury finds Portsmouth police officer Jeremy Durocher not guilty in shooting trial

He was facing a gun and malicious wounding charge for shooting 18-year-old Deontrace Ward three times.

www.13newsnow.com