PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Chesapeake man who was shot by police in Portsmouth in 2022 is now suing the officer and the city for $10 million.
In the lawsuit filed on June 17, Andre Rawls is demanding a jury trial over the shooting, which happened on June 19, 2022.
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On that date, police said an officer responded to the 2300 block of Greenwood Drive for a call for service. That's where the officer encountered Rawls, who was allegedly brandishing a "sharp object" at the officer.
Rawls was shot multiple times in the arms and legs. He was initially charged with attempted assault of a police officer and attempted breaking and entering, but prosecutors withdrew those charges in February of 2023.
According to Rawls' lawsuit, he suffers from schizophrenia and was suffering from a mental health crisis on the day of the shooting.
The lawsuit states Rawls went to a home on Greenwood Drive where his ex-girlfriend used to live. At the time, Rawls said he was unaware that his ex-girlfriend and her family had moved out and someone else was living there.
After no one answered the door when he knocked on it, the lawsuit states Rawls laid down to rest in the front yard. That's when someone called 911 for a wellness check on Rawls.
EMTs reportedly arrived and evaluated Rawls, and then after determining he was not a threat to himself or others, left the scene.
The lawsuit states that after EMTs left, Rawls again went to the home's front door entrance and knocked on the door. The resident reportedly was accompanied by a dog. Rawls allegedly felt threatened by the dog and grabbed a grilling fork that was on the front porch to protect himself.
The lawsuit states he neither threatened nor attacked the resident.
It was around this time that the lawsuit claims a Portsmouth police officer arrived to complete a welfare check on Rawls. Despite being aware Rawls was undergoing a mental health crisis, the lawsuit alleges the officer immediately confronted and began yelling at Rawls.
The lawsuit said Rawls told the officer he was "good" and attempted to walk away, and never threatened, attacked, or assaulted the officer.
The officer allegedly deployed their taser, hitting Rawls in his upper body. Rawls did not fall to the ground but instead continued to try to leave the scene. The officer then yelled at Rawls again and pointed his gun at Rawls. While Rawls tried walking away, the lawsuit claims the officer positioned himself in front of Rawls, and then fired seven shots when Rawls turned and walked toward him.
Rawls was shot five times as a result, in both his legs and right arm, seriously injuring the man.
The lawsuit claims the officer did not attempt to use non-lethal force when confronting Rawls, did not call for backup, made no attempts to de-escalate the situation or complete a wellness check of Rawls, and did not warn Rawls he would open fire.
The lawsuit asks that Rawls be awarded $10 million for compensatory and punitive damages as a result of the shooting, as well as to cover lawyer and other legal fees.
