By: Derek Hawkins//March 19, 2018//
7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Case Name: Dawne A. Sanzone, et al. James Gray
Case No.: 17-2103
Officials: WOOD, Chief Judge, and BAUER and BARRETT, Circuit Judges.
Focus: 4Th Amendment Violation – Qualified Immunity
Indianapolis police officer James Gray fatally shot an agitated Keith Koster when Koster threatened to fire a “warning shot” and then pointed his gun at police officers gathered in the doorway of his apartment. Koster’s sister sued on behalf of his estate, claiming that Gray violated the Fourth Amendment by using excessive force. The district court denied Gray’s motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity. Because Gray acted reasonably when Koster pointed a gun at him and fellow officers, he did not violate the Fourth Amendment and is entitled to qualified immunity. We therefore reverse the district court’s decision and remand with instructions to enter judgment for Gray.
Reversed and Remanded