Tennessee Mother Sues Police for Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Son During Traffic Stop

Lawsuit alleges excessive force, constitutional rights violations, seeking $50 million and changes to police department's use of force practices, with officer back on duty after grand jury declined indictment.

• The lawsuit filed by Linda Allen alleges that the Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, police officer who fatally shot her son, Eric Allen, used excessive force and violated his constitutional rights.
• The incident happened during a traffic stop in November 2022, when Eric Allen reportedly attempted to drive away with the officer inside the car, leading to the officer firing his stun gun and handgun at him.
• Body camera footage shows that after the driver of the vehicle had exited, Eric Allen moved into the driver's seat, was told not to drive off, had his hands raised and was tasered and shot while the officer yelled at him to stop.
• The suit, which seeks $50 million, also demands federal monitoring of the Mt. Juliet Police Department's use of force practices and procedural changes to their patrol techniques, alleging that their tactics underserve Black Americans.
• After a preliminary review and a Wilson County grand jury's refusal to indict in the shooting, Sgt. Joshua Lo, the officer involved, returned to duty, sparking controversy. The local police union and the police department stand firmly behind Sgt. Lo.

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