On August 5, 2014, police were called to the Walmart in Beavercreek, Ohio when someone had called 911 about a man in the store with a gun. Crawford was handling a BB gun that had been lying on a shelf in Walmart, unpackaged. Within a second of the police’s first contact with Crawford, he was shot dead on the site.
The family of Crawford is seeking more than $75,000 in damages, naming the city of Beavercreek, Walmart and the Beavercreek Police Chief as defendants in the claim. The lawsuit also lists the name of the police officer that fired the shot at Crawford, Sean Williams. The lawsuit alleges that Walmart was negligent in leaving the BB gun unpackaged and on the shelf.
The wrongful death lawsuit also makes note of the fact that Ohio is an open-carry state, which would make the actions of the officers being particularly over-the-top in their approach.
The lawsuit also makes note of the fact that Ohio is an open-carry state, which would make the actions of the officers being particularly over-the-top in their approach. A grand jury decided not to indict the officer in the incident. Video footage of the incident was released after the grand jury decision, showing Crawford talking on his cell phone while holding the gun and walking through the store. Police enter and the confrontation ensues.
This tragic and messy situation will be worked out in the court system, and it will be up to judges to determine whether the police officers and Walmart were negligent in the case.
If you have a loved one you believe died due to someone else’s negligence, work with the Ohio wrongful death attorneys at Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen LPA, Co. to learn more about filing a potential lawsuit.