PEORIA, Ill. — The Peoria City Council has approved a $415,000 out-of-court settlement of a lawsuit filed by the mother of a man shot-to-death by police in 2017.
25-year-old Eddie Russell Jr. suffered multiple gunshot wounds fired by six Peoria Police officers after authorities said Russell robbed a bank at gunpoint, held police at bay during a standoff, and raised a gun at them as came out of his mother’s home on W. Sheffield Drive on September 20, 2017.
Chuck Grayeb was the only council member voting against the settlement.
Then-Peoria County State’s Attorney Jerry Brady and Illinois State Police determined the officers were justified in their use of deadly force.
The settlement ends on-going litigation costs.
The city released a statement following the council’s action:
“Regarding the settlement of Johnson v. City of Peoria, the actions of all involved officers were found justified following an independent investigation conducted by the Illinois State Police and reviewed by then Peoria County State’s Attorney Jerry Brady. The City of Peoria continues to stand by the actions of its officers that day. Nonetheless, given the high costs of further litigation and in the best interests of all involved parties, including Mr. Russell’s surviving family members, the City believes that a reasonable settlement was more preferable than the continuation of adversarial litigation.”
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