The family of Isaiah Williams, a 19-year-old who was fatally shot by Las Vegas police officers in 2022, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). The lawsuit, which was filed in Federal Court, seeks at least $1 million in damages on the accusation that the officers involved violated Williams’ constitutional rights and caused his family extreme emotional distress.

The incident occurred on January 10, 2022, when LVMPD officers executed a no-knock warrant at an apartment complex on South Nellis Blvd. The warrant was related to a murder investigation, and the officers believed that the suspect was inside the apartment. However, Williams, who was asleep on the sofa, was not the suspect they were looking for.

According to the lawsuit, the officers broke a window and stormed into the apartment, causing Williams to wake up and grab a gun. The officers then fired more than 20 rounds at Williams, hitting him at least 17 times. Williams, who was lying on the floor bleeding to death, was then handcuffed by the officers, who did not attempt to provide any medical assistance.

The officers accused are said to have failed to reasonably execute the search and seizure and that their actions led to an explosively dangerous and completely unnecessary situation that resulted in Williams’ death. The accused did not have probable cause or reasonable suspicion to believe that the suspect was inside the apartment and that they did not give Williams enough time to respond before entering.

The lawsuit names LVMPD and several officers as defendants, including SWAT-team officers Kerry Kubla, Brice Clements, Alex Gonzalez, Russell Backman, James Rothenburg, and James Bertuccini. Claims that LVMPD’s SWAT team chose to execute the warrant at 5 a.m., a time when they knew that the occupants of the apartment would likely be asleep, were also made.

The officers deployed a stun flash grenade into the apartment simultaneously with their announcements, which by their very nature, are designed to confuse persons and impair their hearing. As a result, Williams did not realize that the men entering the apartment were law enforcement officers, and he fired at them in self-defense.

According to the claims, officers violated LVMPD internal policies and procedures and the U.S. Constitution, Federal law, and Nevada law. It states that officers who are not serving a no-knock warrant must knock and announce their presence and purpose, and allow a reasonable opportunity for the people inside to ascertain their identity and comply with the request to enter before using any force.

In addition to the lawsuit, Williams’ family and community members have organized protests and press conferences to demand transparency and justice. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for physical injury, emotional distress, wrongful death, and nominal damages, and each of the seven counts in damages above $1 million.