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Colorado Officers Cleared In Black Teen’s Death, Family Readies Lawsuit

Jor’Dell Richardson’s family demands justice.

Three Aurora, Colo., police officers have been cleared again of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Jor’Dell Richardson, prompting his family to pursue legal action.

According to CBS News, Aurora police internal affair investigators announced on Tuesday (Oct. 10) that all three officers, including the one who shot Richardson, have been cleared to return to duties.

The family’s attorneys are not shocked by the outcome.

"It's not a surprise. This is part and parcel for Aurora," Siddartha Rathod, an attorney representing Jor'Dell's family, told CBS News Colorado on Tuesday. "Aurora cleared the officers who are currently on trial for murder in the Elijah McClain case."

Trial Underway For Ex-Aurora, Colo, Cops Accused Of Elijah McClain's Death

The Aurora Police Department said that Sgt. Stephenson Cary did not have his body camera turned on, Officer James Snapp was in violation of the department’s “conduct unbecoming an officer” policy and Officer Roch Gruszeczka was cleared of use of deadly force, failure to identify as a police officer and conformance to law policies.

"The tragic death of Jor'Dell Richardson has understandably evoked strong emotions from his family and community members. While some will vehemently disagree with our findings, it is important for the community to know that the department left no stone unturned to establish the facts in this case," Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo said in a statement.

In a separate investigation, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in September found that Snapp and Gruszeczka were legally justified in their use of force, station KDVR reported.

Initially, police accused Richardson of an armed robbery of a convenience store, but the weapon turned out to be a BB gun. On a nearby security camera and bodycam footage, two officers can be seen chasing Richardson through an alley before tackling him to the ground. A physical altercation erupts, and seconds later,  Gruszeczka fatally shoots Richardson.

At a news conference, Acevedo showed side-by-side photos of a BB gun and a real handgun to highlight their similarities.

Richardson’s death ignited protests and demands for justice. Attorneys for his family are now preparing to file a wrongful death lawsuit. But Rathod said the police are not cooperating with his requests for records.

"We want all the bodycam footage. We want all the details about the replica toy gun and Aurora won't release them. Why? They get to pick and choose what they release and when they release it and doesn't the public deserve it?" he said.

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