A federal judge in Wisconsin on Wednesday ruled that the Milwaukee police officer who fatally shot Dontre Hamilton in 2014 violated the black male’s constitutional rights by illegally checking his person for weapons.
U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller’s decision may allow Hamilton’s family to receive compensation for the 31-year-old’s death.
On April 14, 2014, police officer Christopher Manney had approached Hamilton at Red Arrow Park in Milwaukee after receiving a report that the man was sleeping there.
Manney went up to Hamilton from behind and patted him down. Hamilton seized Manney’s baton. In response, Hamilton grabbed his gun and shot Hamilton 14 times.
Manney was fired following the incident for not following police procedures, but he was not charged with a crime.
Hamilton’s family has filed a civil suit against Manney.
