Although video footage appears to contradict the stories of the authorities regarding the death of John Crawford, a grand jury decided not to bring charges against the officers. Now the family of Crawford, who was shot while walking around Walmart with a BB gun he picked up in jest, has filed a negligent death lawsuit and accused the Beavercreek Walmart of leaving the toy gun laying open on an unlocked shelf for days.
Authorities have also faced criticism, after it was revealed that they had roughed up the fiance of Crawford directly after he was killed.
According to the family’s lawyers, “[Walmart] had every reason to know that someone might mistake a BB gun for a real gun. That gun was not secured like other weapons. … This gun was left unpackaged on a shelf, and in our understanding, it was left there for two days.”