Court Denies Minneapolis’ Attempt to Dismiss Amir Locke Civil Rights Lawsuit

Amir was shot and killed during a botched February 2, 2022 no-knock raid by the Minneapolis Police Department

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — In a thorough and significant decision, the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has denied the motion to dismiss filed by the defendants in the case brought by Karen Wells and Andre Locke, the parents of Amir Locke. Amir was fatally shot by Minneapolis Police Officer Mark Hanneman during a no-knock search warrant execution in February 2022. Amir was not named in the warrant. The court's ruling allows the lawsuit to proceed, emphasizing the plausibility of the plaintiffs' claims that Officer Hanneman's use of deadly force violated Amir Locke’s Fourth Amendment rights and that the City of Minneapolis maintained unconstitutional policies that contributed to Locke’s death.

The court's decision underscores the importance of holding law enforcement accountable for both individual actions and unlawful practices.  The Court extensively reviewed video footage of the shooting and found that Officer Hanneman was not entitled to qualified immunity.  The Court reasoned that the “allegations [of the Complaint] plausibly show that Amir did not point the firearm at officers or use the weapon in a menacing way and that Amir was attempting to comply with officers’ commands.”  The Court also stated that “in the form they have been presented on this motion, the body-worn-camera videos do not contradict these allegations.”  [Order, pg. 11 of 19.]

The Court further found that Amir’s parents plausibly alleged unlawful practices by the Minneapolis Police Department itself, including the disproportionate execution of no-knock warrants and the use of excessive force against people of color.  [Order, pg. 16.] 

Attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci and Jeff Storms added:

“This ruling marks a critical step forward in the pursuit of accountability and justice for Amir Locke and his family.  While neither we nor Amir’s family had control over the prosecution of criminal charges, this Order now gives us the ability to fully conduct discovery into the City of Minneapolis and ensure that every stone is turned over in Amir’s name. He was a promising and positive young musician who wanted to use his life to inspire young people in the Black community and beyond.  The practices of the Minneapolis Police Department in February 2022 reflect systemic issues within the department that disproportionately impact minority communities and undermine public trust in law enforcement.” 

About Ben Crump Law

Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. Founded in 1998, we have decades of history securing verdicts and settlements for our clients - many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards.  Our expertise ranges from medical malpractice and sexual abuse cases involving individual or institutional negligence to civil rights, police misconduct and workers compensation, making Romanucci & Blandin a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured. We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.

About Storms Dworak LLC 

Storms Dworak LLC handles many of Minnesota’s highest profile civil rights and wrongful death cases in actions involving law enforcement, correctional facilities, and the foster care system.  In addition to civil rights cases, the Minneapolis firm represents clients in high-stakes personal injury, medical malpractice, employment, and sexual abuse claims.  For more information, visit www.stormsdworak.com.