A jury awarded $19.75 million in damages to six people who were injured when a now-former Denver police officer opened fire in LoDo in 2022.
Why it matters: This is the second major verdict against the Denver Police Department in recent years, both of which involved unnecessary use of force.
Driving the news: The jury’s decision came Friday after one day of deliberations about whether former police officer Brandon Ramos was liable for injuries suffered by six bystanders when he fired at an armed man in a crowd outside Larimer Beer Hall.
- The plaintiffs were Yekalo Weldehiwet, Bailey Alexander, Willis Small IV, Mark Bess, Angelica Rey and Ayla Bersage.
What they’re saying: “The verdict sends an unmistakable message that officers must consider the safety of our communities when they decide to use deadly force,” Denver attorney Rathod Mohamedbhai said in a statement.
- “Officers cannot treat the people of Colorado as collateral damage.”
The intrigue: In the civil lawsuit, the injured bystanders asked for $26 million in financial and punitive damages…