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On January 2, 2021, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Springfield Police officers responded to a domestic disturbance call near Apollo Avenue and Olympic Street. Charles Ferguson, 64, reportedly opened fire on officers with a high-powered rifle. Police escalated a standoff. After approximately nine hours and multiple exchanges of gunfire, officers heard a single gunshot from inside the residence. Upon entry, they found Ferguson deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

https://www.wdtn.com/news/standoff-in-springfield-is-over-man-that-shot-at-police-is-dead-from-apparent-self-inflicted-gunshot-wound/
https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/neighborhood-blocked-off-after-reported-shots-fired-in-springfield/P4V75LYBSFDB5ARR2X74ZNMHKM/
https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/son-of-man-who-died-in-springfield-standoff-he-was-a-good-dad/L46ENSE42VB3JHKFKBNQLM6NBY/
 

Isaac Matheney, a suspect in a New Year's Day holdup of a Silver Lake gas station and convenience store, was shot and killed by officers after his car was stopped. Matheney reportedly failed to comply with their orders, leading to the use of deadly force. It is unclear if Matheney was armed at the time of the incident.
The incident is under investigation by the Oregon State Police, with findings to be reviewed by the Lake County District Attorney's Office.

https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/deadly-force-investigation-in-lake-county/

On 01/01/2021, Newark Police officers responded to reports of shots fired near South 11th Street and Woodland Avenue. During the incident, officers shot and killed Carl Dorsey III. Specific details about what led to the shooting have not been disclosed by the police. The incident is under investigation.

https://www.nj.com/news/2021/01/newark-police-shoot-and-kill-man-while-responding-to-shots-fired-report.html

On January 1, 2021, 31-year-old Akeem Terrell was arrested by Phoenix police officers during a mental health crisis after he refused to leave a New Year's Day party. Terrell, who had a history of mental illness, was taken to the Maricopa County Jail. In an isolation cell, up to seven officers restrained him to change his handcuffs. Body camera footage showed officers leaving Terrell motionless and face down on the cell floor. Medical assistance was delayed, and Terrell was later pronounced dead at a hospital. His family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging unreasonable force and delayed medical care. In November 2024, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved a $4 million settlement for Terrell's family. Earlier, the Phoenix City Council approved an $800,000 settlement related to the police officers' actions.

https://apnews.com/article/phoenix-man-jail-death-civil-rights-suit-62b6c677129404e5f624d35c405cbdb9 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djcBI52KGog

Oklahoma City PD responded to a call about Edwards, a 60-year-old unhoused man, allegedly "bothering customers" at a strip mall. Police arrived and fired a Taser before fatally shooting him on December 11, 2021, after he allegedly charged at an officer with a knife and later fled.
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There are differing accounts of the exact sequence of events. The police report that Edwards had a knife and approached them in an aggressive manner, leading to the use of force. Evidence suggests that he had his back turned when Sergeant Clifford Holman fired the fatal shots. Holman was one of 3 officers who fired shots at Edwards while he was fleeing, striking him in the back. The autopsy later confirmed that Edwards was hit by four bullets, with two of them in the abdomen and one in the chest, as well as grazing wounds on the arm and thigh. Autopsy to compare the differing claims is not available.
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There are significant questions regarding the use of force in this situation, especially considering that Edwards was running away at the time of the shooting, which led to the manslaughter charge against Sergeant Holman. The police officers had used a Taser and OC (pepper) spray and deadly force. Some of the controversy surrounds the use of the knife and whether it posed a real threat, especially since Edwards was not facing the officers when he was shot.
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OFFICER CHARGED
Oklahoma City Police Sergeant Clifford Holman was charged with first-degree manslaughter on February 26, 2021, for the December 11, 2020mshooting.The charges stemmed from allegations that Holman used unnecessary lethal force when he shot Edwards as Edwards ran away holding a knife.
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LAWSUIT/SETTLEMENT
On November 21, 2023, the Oklahoma City Council approved a $1.05 million settlement for the family of Bennie Edwards.

OFFICER CLEARED AND REINSTATED
Holman remained on paid administrative leave following the charge. He was later acquitted on October 18, 2023, after a jury found him not guilty.
Officer Clifford Holman who fired the shots, was charged with manslaughter but had charges dismissed in 2023. Holman was reinstated to police work after being cleared.
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UPDATE: 11/23/2024

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-county-da-deadly-force-bennie-edwards-back-turned-to-officer/44677287

https://www.news9.com/story/603833e90ec12c0bd7a1b048/okc-police-officer-charged-with-manslaughter-in-shooting-death-of-okc-man

Officers cleared:

https://kfor.com/news/local/ok-county-da-expected-to-drop-charges-in-several-key-cases/?ipid=promo-link-block1

Family Wins Settlement:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/family-okc-man-killed-officer-225248228.html

On 12/04/2020, Casey Goodson Jr. was returning home from a dentist appointment. He had stopped to pick up Subway sandwiches for his family, holding the sandwiches in one hand and his keys in the other as he approached his front door. As he began unlocking the door to his residence, Deputy Jason Meade of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, working with the U.S. Marshals Task Force on another assignment unrelated to Goodson in the area, shot Casey Goodson six times in the back. Meade later claimed he mistook the sandwiches Goodson held for a firearm.
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The police officers involved in the incident with Casey Goodson Jr. were part of a U.S. Marshals task force conducting a search for a different individual in the area. Deputy Jason Meade, part of the task force, followed Goodson after he was allegedly seen driving by the scene with a gun, a claim later disputed by Goodson's family. Goodson had not the target of any investigation, and his family witnessed the aftermath as he fell inside his home.
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Casey Goodson Jr.’s family members present during the incident included his grandmother and two young children, believed to be relatives, who witnessed parts of the event. Goodson's sister, Kaylee Harper, made a powerful statement on Facebook, saying, “My brother literally walked across the yard, walked in the back fence to get to the side door, had his Subway and mask in one hand, keys in the other, unlocked and opened the door and stepped in the house before [Meade] shot him. Why did you kill a man walking into his own home?!”
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The family has consistently disputed the narrative provided by law enforcement, emphasizing that Goodson was not engaged in criminal activity, was a licensed gun owner, and was carrying only sandwiches and keys when he was killed.
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The trial for Jason Meade, who was charged with murder and reckless homicide in the shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. in December 2020, began in February 2024. It ended in a mistrial on February 16, 2024, after the jury failed to reach a verdict despite deliberating for several days. Meade's defense team had requested a change of venue due to concerns over impartiality. The retrial date has not been set yet

• https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/us/casey-goodson-jason-meade.html
• https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/22/us/casey-goodson-shooting-jason-meade/index.html
• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/casey-goodson-shooting-what-know-franklin-county-sheriff-s-office-n1250593
• https://columbusfreepress.com/article/family-casey-christopher-goodson-jr-demands-answers-his-death​:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
• https://www.police1.com/trials/ohio-judge-declares-mistrial-in-former-deputys-murder-trial

On October 3, 2019, Officer Felipe Hernandez approached Teresa Gomez, who was sitting in her car near the Las Cruces Recreation Center. Because Gomez had an outstanding warrant related to an incident involving an individual with felony charges, she attempted to drive away in her car. Officer Hernandez fired at least three shots at her vehicle as she tried to leave, with one of the shots fatally striking her. She had been unarmed, nonconfrontational and even asked the agitate3d officer in a calm tone, “Can you be nice?” She died from the fatal shooting.
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After Teresa Gomez's death, Officer Felipe Hernandez was placed on administrative leave. The incident led to an internal investigation. In January 2024, Hernandez was charged with second-degree murder, and in May 2024, he was fired from the Las Cruces Police Department. The city in November of 2024 agreed to a $20 million settlement with Gomez’s family, although this settlement did not indicate Hernandez's criminal guilt
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Officer Felipe Hernandez has not been cleared. He was charged with second-degree murder in January 2024 and will go to trial in June 2025.

• https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/las-cruces-reaches-20-million-settlement-with-family-of-woman-shot-killed-by-officer-teresa-gomez-felipe-hernandez
• https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2019/10/04/las-cruces-police-shoot-woman-during-traffic-stop/3847131002/

• https://patabook.com/news/2024/11/teresa-gomez-shooting/

On February 14, 2019, Shelia Ragland called 911 because her son, Mario Clark, was undergoing a psychotic episode. Upon arrival, officers from the Jackson Police Department restrained Clark. According to Ragland, Clark was placed on the floor with his hands and feet handcuffed, and officers allegedly beat him on the legs, and kicked and hit him in the head. Despite Ragland's pleas for them to stop, Clark was later transported to a hospital where he was placed on life support and died several days later.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER:Fatalities: 1
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Last Update: 12/28/2024

1. https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2020/sep/15/alternatives-policing-mental-illness/
2. https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news/mario-clarks-family-releases-statement-after-coroner-rules-his-death-a-homicide/
3. https://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2019/mar/06/four-officers-fired-mississippi-after-mans-death-l/
4. https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news/jpd-officers-fired-after-death-of-mario-clark/
5. https://www.wjtv.com/news/local-news/family-calls-for-justice-in-death-of-mario-clark/

On November 21, 2006, Kathryn Johnston, a 92-year-old African American woman, was killed during a botched drug raid at her home on Neal Street NW in Atlanta, Georgia. Officers of the Atlanta Police Department forcibly entered her residence using a no-knock warrant obtained through fabricated information. Police falsely claimed to have evidence of drug activity, including an alleged drug buy by a nonexistent informant.
When police breached her door, Johnston, believing her home was being invaded, fired a single warning shot from her revolver, which struck no one. Officers responded with 39 gunshots, striking Johnston multiple times and killing her. In the chaos, officers were injured by their own ricocheting bullet fragments from their barrage of gunfire. After realizing their mistake, officers handcuffed Johnston as she lay bleeding on the floor, where she later died. To cover up their actions, officers planted marijuana in her basement to frame her as a drug dealer.
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PLANTING EVIDENCE
There was no marijuana. The officers handcuffed Ms. Johnston and left her to bleed and die on the floor of her own home while they planted marijuana in her basement to “find” it later.
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THE TRIAL
A federal judge sent three cops to prison for their roles in the raid on Johnston’s Neal Street home. The judge said performance quotas influenced the officers’ behavior.
“It is my fervent hope the Atlanta Police Department will take to heart what has happened here,” U.S. District Judge Julie Carnes said. After conducting an emotional two-day hearing, Carnes sentenced former officers Gregg Junnier, Jason R. Smith and Arthur Bruce Tesler to prison.
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THE OFFICERS
- Officer Gregg Junnier pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to violate civil rights resulting in death and also faced related state charges. He was sentenced to six years in federal prison in 2009, with three years of supervised release afterward. His cooperation in the investigation of broader misconduct within the Atlanta Police Department led to significant reforms and additional convictions of other officers.
- Officer Jason R. Smith, one of the former Atlanta Police Department officers involved in the fatal shooting of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston, was sentenced in 2009 to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to violate civil rights resulting in death. This sentence was served concurrently with state charges, including voluntary manslaughter and perjury, to which he also pleaded guilty. Smith began cooperating with investigators to a limited extent during the broader inquiry into misconduct within the Atlanta Police Department, which led to further charges against other officers. After serving his sentence, he would have been released around 2019, as there is no parole in the federal system. However, specific details about his life or activities following his release are not readily available from public records.
- Officer Arthur Tesler, one of the Atlanta police officers involved in the 2006 killing of Kathryn Johnston during a botched drug raid, was sentenced to five years in federal prison. Tesler was also required to complete probation and community service upon release. Details about the exact amount of time Tesler served in prison or his current whereabouts after release are not readily available from public records.
At the hearing, Tesler’s lawyer had provided examples of other Atlanta police officers who broke the rules or violated the law and said a disturbing culture of misconduct pervades the force.
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Police Reforms
The public outrage following Johnston's death prompted significant reforms within the Atlanta Police Department regarding the use of no-knock warrants:
1. Tightened Oversight: Officers were required to obtain approval from both a senior police official and a judge before executing no-knock warrants.
2. Policy Restrictions: Stricter justification and higher evidentiary standards were instituted for approving such warrants.
3. Increased Accountability: Officers involved in warrant applications faced enhanced internal oversight to ensure compliance and truthful reporting.
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No-Knock Raids under Scrutiny
Reforms sparked broader discussions about the legality and dangers of no-knock warrants, influencing changes in other jurisdictions. However, critics argue that deeper systemic changes are necessary to address the root causes of police misconduct and excessive force.
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Civil Lawsuit and Settlement
Johnston’s family filed a wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit against the City of Atlanta and the officers involved. In August 2010, the city agreed to a $4.9 million settlement, one of the largest payouts for police misconduct at the time. The settlement was paid in two parts: $2.9 million upfront and the remaining $2 million by the end of 2012.
Johnston’s death remains a pivotal case in the debate over police accountability and the use of aggressive tactics such as no-knock warrants.
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https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18328267

https://web.archive.org/web/20090413113144/http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2009/02/23/johnston_sentencing.html

http://reason.com/archives/2007/11/23/kathryn-johnston-a-year-later

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cop-convicted-of-lying-about-shootout/

https://www.aclu.org/other/kathryn-johnston-and-police-system-failure

Lincoln Boe, 18, was facing charges of murder after the fatal stabbing of 60-year-old Gina Broome in Las Vegas. Boe was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He died in custody on October 28, 2023, with the coroner ruling the cause of death as suicide. Boe had been scheduled to go to trial in April 2024 for the murder charge.

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/crime/article299261604.html

Hyde County deputies were sent to a call of a breaking and entering in progress. Nat Blount, the caller’s ex-husband, had kicked in the door and arrived with a gun. Police said that they arrived and found him standing on the front porch with a rifle. Police engaged in a 10-minute standoff, and claim the man would not drop the rifle. They shot and killed him.

https://www.obxtoday.com/hyde-county-suspect-involved-in-domestic-incident-killed-after-armed-standoff-with-deputies/

https://www.witn.com/2022/04/10/domestic-violence-advocate-shares-support-hyde-co-victims/

Independence PD chased a vehicle at high speeds for undisclosed reasons until it hit 2 other vehicles, crashed through a fence and came to a stop. The driver of one of the bystander vehicles that was hit by the police chase crash died.

https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article288576911.html

https://www.kmbc.com/article/independence-police-pursuit-ends-deadly-crash-kc/60834430#

An individual died from a drug overdose while in custody at the East Point Jail in Georgia. The City of East Point reached a $2.1 million settlement with the family over claims of negligence and failure to provide adequate medical care. The settlement aims to address accountability and improve inmate safety measures.

https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2024/10/16/city-east-point-reaches-21-million-settlement-over-inmates-overdose-death-attorneys-say/