The Family of Deaunte Bell Retains Attorney Christopher M. Cooper and Walton + Brown, LLP To Investigate His Shooting Death by Columbus, Ohio Police Officers on October 29, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Family of Deaunte Bell Retains Attorney Christopher M. Cooper and Walton + Brown, LLP To Investigate His Shooting Death by Columbus, Ohio Police Officers on October 29, 2015.
The Family of Deaunte Bell has retained Attorneys Christopher M. Cooper, and Sean L. Walton and Chanda L. Brown of Walton + Brown, LLP. to investigate his shooting death. Bell was shot and killed by Columbus Division of Police Officers John Narewski and Matthew Baas.
Shortly after Bell’s death, Columbus Division of Police released a statement that Officers Narewski and Baas stopped a car in the parking lot of Amberly Square Apartments because of suspicious activity. Police didn’t give further details of what the suspicious activity was but said there were three people in the car. The interaction resulted in Bell’s death after officers said Bell reached for a weapon.
“This was not a traffic stop as the police initially stated. The vehicle that Bell and the two other individuals were in was not stopped by police, but was approached by the officers while lawfully parked. Neither Bell nor the other two individuals in the car were being accused of committing any crimes when approached, nor were they charged with any crimes. We are wondering why this ‘consensual encounter’ so quickly escalated and resulted in Deaunte’s death.” – Attorney Christopher M. Cooper
On May 11, 2016, it was reported in the Columbus Dispatch that a Franklin County Grand Jury had cleared Officers Narewski and Baas in the death of Deaunte Bell. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien informed the Dispatch that the officers tried to talk with Bell, who was in the back seat, but Bell refused to comply with an order to put his hands up. He said that Bell struggled with Narewski and reached for a gun in his pocket.
Bell was shot six times, including a gunshot wound to the head that was listed on the Franklin County Coroner’s Report as the cause of death. The family of Deaunte Bell has retained Attorneys Cooper, Walton and Brown to ensure that the officers involved in his death are held accountable for any violations of his civil rights.
“Based on our preliminary review of the investigation into this shooting by the Columbus Division of Police, we have not only serious questions about the impartiality of the investigation led by the Columbus Police, but questions about the countless numbers of citizen complaints and use of force incidents involving these two officers. Not only does it appear that the investigation into these two troubled officers lacked sincerity, but the discrepancies in witness accounts of the shooting and what was actually included in the investigative packet and what was presented to the grand jury is of huge concern.” – Attorney Sean L. Walton
About Christopher M. Cooper
Christopher M. Cooper has practiced law over 32 years and provides a wide variety of legal services in the Central Ohio area, including, but not limited to, criminal defense, civil litigation, domestic and juvenile law, traffic and OVI defense, and probate law.
About Walton + Brown LLP.
Walton + Brown, LLP takes pride in having a successful civil rights and personal injury practice, unafraid to step into a courtroom and litigate cases to the fullest extent necessary. With over 440 lawsuits filed and over $14 million in settlements or verdicts won for our clients, Sean and Chanda bring a record of success. Sean and Chanda have been awarded Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40 designations as trial attorneys. This includes many areas of civil rights and serious personal injury litigation, including auto, trucking, bus and motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, products liability, premises liability and other instances where someone has been injured due to the actions or negligence of another.
CONTACT
Walton + Brown, LLP.
20 S. 3rd St. Suite 210
Columbus, OH 43215
614-636-3476 (Office)
614-636-3453 (Fax)
media@waltonbrownlaw.com