Suit: Philly cops planted evidence to justify fatal shooting
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The mother of a motorist shot and killed by Philadelphia police is claiming that officers planted evidence to make it seem like he was reaching for a gun.
Tanya Brown-Dickerson filed a wrong-death lawsuit against the city on Tuesday. Her son, 26-year-old Brandon Tate-Brown, was killed in December during an overnight traffic stop.
District Attorney Seth Williams declined to charge the officers in Tate-Brown’s death, saying surveillance video corroborated the officers’ story that he was reaching into his car for a loaded pistol when an officer shot and killed him.
But attorneys for his mother say the video appears to show that Tate-Brown was shot while fleeing police, not reaching for a gun. Their lawsuit claims police planted the gun later found in his car.
A city spokesman says the city doesn’t comment on pending litigation.