Vallejo Agrees to Pay $2.8 Million in Wrongful Death Racial Killing

On November 9, 2022, the City of Vallejo decided to settle a wrongful death suit by agreeing to pay $2.8 million to the surviving family members. Let’s explore the details of the news with Ehline Law and our personal injury attorneys.

Vallejo Police Officer Kills Unarmed Man and Denies Liability for Racial Killing

In 2017, police shot an unarmed man, Angel Ramos, alleging that Ramos was carrying a knife. Ramos’ mother, Annice Evans, knew her son was not holding a knife and decided to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Vallejo.

Family of Angel Ramos Contradicts Claim of a Knife Involved in the Fight

According to Vallejo Police Officer Zachary Jacobsen, he heard screaming between the members of the Ramos’ family. Officer Zach Jacobsen claimed that he saw Ramos running toward a 16-year-old boy with a knife in his hand, gesturing a stabbing motion. Afraid that Ramos could kill the boy, Jacobsen shot and killed Ramos.

The Ramos’ family contradicted Jacobsen’s claim, stating that it was a family fight and no knife was ever involved. Upon investigation, there was no knife near the accident scene.

The Vallejo Sun, an independent news publication, revealed that Vallejo Police Department and Solano County District Attorney’s Office cleared Jacobsen of any wrongdoing in 2018 after investigators reported that the officer’s action was lawful.

Constant Harassment by Vallejo Officers to Scare Angel’s Family

According to the surviving family members, police officers would drive by their home on Sacramento Street after the controversial shooting to intimidate and silence the family from pursuing legal action.

Alicia Saddler, Ramos’ sister, stated that the City of Vallejo lied to its community and made the family look like they were the crazy ones after they took Angel’s life.

Vallejo Officer Testifies in Court for a Shocking Police Practice

In 2019, the family filed a claim against the city, but the harassment continued, especially after the family installed security cameras in and around the house.

During a separate criminal proceeding against Vallejo Police, officer Tribble testified in court, stating that Jacobsen bent the tip of his badge after shooting Ramos, uncovering a shocking practice among Vallejo’s police officials for marking their kill.

Ramos was one of the many racial killings the police officers of the City of Vallejo carried out. The community and the grieving mother would consistently show up at city council meetings, protesting the wrongful death of Angel Ramos and pressurizing the city to take action.

Melissa Nold, the attorney representing the family, stated that the settlement would finally end one chapter. However, the family is not planning to back out and is seeking Jacobsen’s termination after what the family lost.

According to a news media analysis, the City of Vallejo paid out $6.5 million between 2015 and 2020 to close police brutality and wrongful death cases.

Elements of Wrongful Death Lawsuit

When pursuing a wrongful death case, the plaintiff must prove the following elements of the wrongful death lawsuit:

• Negligence: The defendant failed to act in a reasonable manner or purposely harmed the decedent
• Death: The victim lost their life
• Causation: The defendant’s failure to act in a reasonable manner resulted in the death of the decedent
• Damages: The victim’s family (plaintiff) suffered damages and substantial loss following the death of the victim

An experienced personal injury attorney can help investigate the accident, gather evidence, and establish causation to fight a wrongful death lawsuit successfully.

Schedule a Free Consultation with Ehline Law

If you lost a loved one due to another’s negligence, contact us at (833) LETS-SUE for a free consultation, as you may be eligible for compensation.