Lawsuits Filed in Death of Detroit Girl

story by Wall St. Journal
written by Mike Ramsey

SOUTHFIELD, Mich.—The family of a seven-year-old girl who was killed in a police raid filed federal and state lawsuits Tuesday accusing the Detroit police department with negligence and misconduct in the matter.

Aiyana Jones was shot and killed Sunday during a raid on her Detroit duplex home where police were searching for a murder suspect. Police say an officer tussled with Jones's grandmother—or ran into her—causing the gun to fire accidentally and killing the second-grader.

In separate lawsuits filed in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Michigan and Michigan's Circuit Court for Wayne County, the family alleges that the police account is false and that the shot that killed Jones was fired from outside the home.

At a news conference Tuesday, the family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said footage shot by a video crew accompanying the police supports the lawsuits' contention.

"It's clear that the shot came through the open door or through the hole in the plate glass window—it clearly was not shot through the wall. This was shot into the room," Mr. Fieger said, surrounded by the girl's family.

A spokesman for the Detroit Police Department declined to comment on the lawsuits.

Detroit police had a search warrant to raid the duplex in pursuit of a man wanted in connection with a recent murder. A man was arrested in the upstairs unit, which has a separate entrance from the home where Jones was.

Police haven't yet released the name of the man arrested, and as of Tuesday had neither charged or released him.

Mr. Fieger identified the man as Chancey Owens, and said he lives in the upper part of the home with the girl's aunt.

A crew from Arts & Entertainment television's "First 48" show was at the scene the night of the shooting.

Mr. Fieger said he thinks the video that he saw was taken by a second crew that was at the scene. A man from the crew called him Sunday night and allowed Mr. Fieger to view the footage Monday, Mr. Fieger said.

Mr. Fieger is in touch with the man's attorney about obtaining a copy of the video.

The Michigan State Police have taken over the investigation of the shooting. "The videotape is just one piece of evidence being considered," said Capt. Harold Love, a spokesman for the state police. "This will be an all-inclusive investigation."

The lawsuits filed by Jones's family allege police committed "gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress." They also allege unnamed officers "tried to cover up their unlawful acts by filing false reports."