PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The family of a Port St. Lucie man killed in an officer-involved shooting in late 2016 is now suing the city.
Samson Fleurant was shot inside his bedroom at his house on Nov. 18, 2016. A grand jury later determined the shooting was justified.
Now, the family is taking action against the city. In a lawsuit filed Jan. 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the family is seeking "damages in excess of $5 million" in relation to Fleurant's death.
The shooting occurred after the Port St. Lucie Police Department says they responded to a disturbance call at Fleurant's home. Police say a 911 call was made by a family member, who said Fleurant was acting erratically and cutting up the front yard with a machete.
Fleurant locked himself inside his bedroom. Police said they tried to subdue Fleurant with a stun gun, but when that was not successful, an officer fired his weapon because Fleurant continued to approach them with a machete.
Fleurant was transported to a hospital, where he later died.
At the time, family members told WPTV that the officers should have used more patience and that they called the police to get Fleurant help.
Stephanie Fleurant, Samson's sister, told WPTV shortly after his death that he "didn't want to die, he just need help. But they didn't have the patience."
The city declined to comment on the pending litigation.
