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Lawsuit Filed As Community Rallies For Man Shot Dead By San Francisco Police In March

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Friends and family of Alejandro Nieto, who was shot and killed by San Francisco police in March, filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city on Friday.

The Nieto family's lawyer, civil rights attorney John Burris, said Friday the lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Nieto family against the city for violation of Nieto's civil rights on the grounds that police officers allegedly used excessive force against him.

Burris said Friday that he believes police shot Nieto as many as 10 times.

"The officers that were involved in the shooting (should) get reprimanded for what they did," said one woman participating in a sunrise ceremony honoring Nieto at the spot where he was killed. "They don't deserve to be part of the force, and I think that some policy changes need to happen. Officers need to have better training and actually think before they shoot."

On Friday afternoon, protesters marched from Bernal Heights Park to the federal building downtown, where the complaint was filed.

Nieto was 28 years-old when he was shot and killed on the night of March 21st in Bernal Heights Park. Officers claimed they thought Nieto was armed with a gun. Police Chief Greg Suhr said Nieto pulled out a Taser when confronted by officers and that's when they fired, thinking it was a handgun.

Lawyers for Nieto's family said  a new witness has come forward in this case.

TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

 

 

 

 

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