LAS VEGAS (AP) — The mother of a teenager who died of a gunshot to the head after police chased him into her house during a burglary investigation in July 2017 has filed a federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit against Las Vegas police.
Taccara Brooks alleges the death of her son, 16-year-old Anthony Garrett, resulted from unreasonable and excessive force by officers.
Police officials and Brooks' attorney, Brent Bryson, did not immediately respond Monday to telephone and email messages seeking comment.
The Clark County coroner ruled Garrett's death a suicide after police said he shot himself with officers at the door of a locked upstairs room in the home several miles southeast of downtown.
The lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court seeks more than $7 million in damages.
It accuses police of denying Garrett medical aid, ushering Brooks and other family members out of her home and waiting several hours before a SWAT team entered the locked room and a police dog bit Garrett.
Garrett died at a hospital two days later.
Police said at the time that they found evidence from previous burglaries inside the house, and that Garrett was found hiding in the backyard before he ran upstairs.