As protests rage around the nation and in Dallas over police shootings, the lawyer for one wounded suspect says Dallas police did the right thing after a December 2013 shooting.
Officer Amy Wilburn was fired and charged with aggravated assault for the shooting of suspect Kelvion Walker.
Wednesday, Walker’s lawyer Geoff Henley announced he is now seeking $10 million in a lawsuit against Wilburn after months of depositions in the case.
“It was her repeated breaches of these policies designed to protect officers and the general public from harm,” Henley said.
Walker was a passenger in a car that had been stolen an hour before the shooting.
Police had followed the car and watched the driver get out and run away, leaving the vehicle rolling in an apartment complex.
Police dash cam video recorded Wilburn running up to the car and firing her weapon through the open driver side window.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Walker was never charged with any crime in the case, but Wilburn’s lawyer Tom Brandt said there was evidence that Walker was involved in the carjacking that happened that day.
But Brandt said Wilburn had good reason to believe the car was empty as she approached it and that she was trying to protect neighbors from the rolling vehicle.
Brandt said Wilburn was surprised to find Walker in the car.
“In his deposition, Chief (David) Brown praised Amy Wilburn for her courageous actions that day,” Brandt said.
Wilburn’s lawyer said she had many commendations in her 13 years with the Dallas Police Department and should not have been fired or charged with a crime.
Wilburn is fighting both actions.
Walker’s lawyer said Chief Brown criticized Wilburn’s actions in his deposition.
“She threw out her training,” Henley said.
Juries may decide the civil and criminal cases pending against Wilburn.
