Mother of Gary teen fatally shot by officer files lawsuit

GARY, Ind. (AP) - The mother of a 15-year-old boy fatally shot two years ago by a Gary police officer is suing city officials and the officer, alleging excessive force.

Tasheena Brooks' federal lawsuit claims that Gary police Officer Justin Hedrick fired "without warning" a fatal shot into the top of Ke-Monte Cobbs' head as the teen lay on the ground the night of Aug. 1, 2017, during a robbery investigation.

The suit alleges that Hedrick's actions were a product of the Gary Police Department's failure to adequately train and supervise its officers and the department's "failure to adequately investigate, punish and discipline prior instances of similar conduct."

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports that the suit seeks unspecified damages from city officials and Hedrick.

An attorney for the defendants, Michael Tolbert, declined to comment.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com