The family of Timothy Craig Setzer Jr, who was shot and killed by Hickory Police Officers in August 2023, has filed a lawsuit against the Officers involved and the city of Hickory.
The lawsuit, filed by Bonnie Alemeta-Christina Tolley, the administrator of Setzer’s estate, claims that Setzer was unarmed and facing away from the officers when he was shot.
Hickory Police said officers were responding to reports of shots fired in the 800 block of Fifth Avenue Southwest. Officers located a suspect matching the description.
The man ran from officers, turned and pulled a handgun from the waistband of his pants according top a statement from Police. That is when Officers fired their weapons, according to the previous statements. Setzer was declared dead on the scene. He was 23-years-old.
The lawsuit claims that Setzer was unarmed with his back to officers when he was shot.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday. The family is asking for at least $25 million.
The Hickory Police Department has not issued a statement since the lawsuit was filed.