BILLINGS — The city of Billings has settled a civil lawsuit with the family of a man killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in 2014.
The Billings Gazette reports the family of Richard Ramirez filed suit against Officer Grant Morrison, the city and Police Chief Rich St. John in 2016, arguing that Ramirez’ rights were violated.
The case was scheduled for a jury trial beginning March 4.
Ramirez was a passenger in the back seat of a car stopped by Morrison. Ramirez, who was a suspect in a robbery and shooting the previous night, was unarmed but did not comply with Morrison’s orders to put up his hands. Morrison testified he feared for his life.
A coroner’s jury in 2015 cleared Morrison of wrongdoing and ruled the shooting justified.