Daughters of homeless man killed by Tustin police are awarded $17 million. City calls shooting justified

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A federal jury awarded $17 million to the daughters of a 39-year-old homeless man who was shot and killed by a Tustin police officer five years ago.In reaching their verdict Tuesday morning, jurors said the fatal shooting of Luis Manuel Garcia in 2021 was not only excessive but also unreasonable, according to Dale K.Galipo, an attorney for the daughters.

Attorneys Michael Carrillo and Renee V.Masongsong also represented the sisters in the civil case against the city of Tustin.“This verdict means a lot to them because they feel that there’s some justice for their father, some vindication that his life meant something,” Galipo said in a phone interview.Galipo said the verdict also brought some closure for Garcia’s daughters — Emily, 23, and Camila, 17 — who have been dealing with the case for the last five years.“To have a jury unanimously say the officer was totally wrong and your father was not at fault at all, I think it really meant a lot to them.”He said the jury valued Garcia’s life at $5 million, $5 million for damages and an additional $7 million to his family.The Tustin Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.

California A federal jury awarded more than $27 million in damages to an Adelanto man who now uses a wheelchair after being shot multiple times by a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy in 2021.The city of Tustin defended its officers, stating in writing that a California Department of Justice investigation, which is required by law to look into fatal officer-involved shootings, determined that the police officers in the case acted in self-defense and were justified in the use of force against an armed suspect.“While we continue to extend condolences, we are disappointed by this verdict, in this civil suit, and will be exploring our options going forward,” Tustin said in a statement.The Garcia sisters filed the federal c...