Family of 23-year-old Jaque Rabon sues California deputies after fatal shooting
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Rabon’s family alleges deputies used excessive force when they shot him as he fled. Authorities say no weapon was found.
The family of 23-year-old Jaque Rabon has filed a federal lawsuit accusing San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies of using excessive force when they fatally shot him in a Riverside shopping-center parking lot earlier this year. Rabon’s family’s lawsuit follows TheGrio’s coverage of a $33.5 million verdict against San Bernardino County in another fatal deputy shooting and a California high court ruling on police misconduct lawsuits.
Rabon was killed Jan. 22 as deputies from the department’s Specialized Enforcement Division attempted to arrest him on a felony no-bail warrant, ABC7 reported. Body-camera footage released by the Sheriff’s Department shows Rabon running from deputies before gunfire erupts.
Authorities have said Rabon was believed to be armed and that he manipulated a black bag around his body while fleeing. No weapon was found on him.
The family disputes that the bag justified deadly force. Attorney Dale Galipo said deputies had no basis to shoot an unarmed man simply because he appeared to reach toward a bag. He also accused deputies of firing repeatedly after Rabon went down.
Rabon’s mother, Tyesha Moody, said the lawsuit is about accountability rather than money. She described her son as a giver and a major source of support for the family.
“No amount of money or the lawsuit or anything is going to bring him back,” Moody said, adding that being able to face the officers who killed her son would bring her some comfort.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department has declined to comment on the lawsuit while the shooting remains under investigation by the California Department of Justice. Under Assembly Bill 1506, the state DOJ investigates fatal police shootings involving civilians who are unarmed.
The California DOJ lists Rabon’s case as an active investigation. The Sheriff’s Department’s transparency page also lists the Jan. 22 shooting and a critical-incident video released in July.
The lawsuit will proceed separately from the state’s review of whether the deputies could face criminal liability. The family says it is seeking accountability for Rabon’s death while the DOJ investigation remains open.