The mother of a woman killed by a police officer in Hopewell has refiled a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit against the officer. The lawsuit accuses the officer of unlawful search and seizure, false imprisonment, battery, and gross negligence. The officer was not indicted by a grand jury.
HOPEWELL – The mother of Angel Viola Decarlo, who was killed by a police officer in Hopewell almost five years ago, has refiled a $25 million wrongful death lawsuit against the officer involved. In addition to seeking punitive damages of $350,000, Emily Decarlo is also demanding a jury trial for the case.
The lawsuit comes after a grand jury’s decision not to indict the officer following a lengthy investigation into the case. Angel Decarlo was shot to death on December 18, 2018, in a residential area behind a shopping center. Police claimed she was a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred just minutes before her death.
The lawsuit accuses the officer, Cameron List, of unlawful search and seizure, excessive force, denial of proper medical care, false imprisonment, battery, and gross negligence. It refutes some claims made in the initial police report, stating that Decarlo was walking on the street carrying a purse and a gun when List and another detective approached her. The suit alleges that List shot her in the chest after she did not comply with their orders to stop.
The lawsuit also claims that List made a reckless decision to tackle Decarlo without consulting anyone, which violated police training plans and general orders. It further alleges that List did not provide any emergency medical attention or call for medical assistance after shooting Decarlo.
The lawsuit describes Decarlo’s death as another instance of police shootings where African Americans are left searching for justice. It cites data showing a disproportionately high number of police shootings involving people of color.
This is not the first encounter between Decarlo and the police. Earlier on the same day she was killed, Decarlo was stopped by traffic patrol, who noticed she was sweating profusely but found no weapons during a search of her vehicle.
The police department and the city have not commented on the lawsuit. However, the police chief called the grand jury’s decision not to indict an important milestone and emphasized the need for healing in the community..