Hannah Fizer
The father of Hannah Fizer has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the sheriff's deputy who fatally shot the 25-year-old Fizer last summer during a traffic stop in Sedalia, Missouri. A special prosecutor in January refused to bring criminal charges against the deputy, while admitting the shooting could have been avoided. From a report at the Columbia Missourian:
John Fizer, the father of a woman who was shot and killed by an on-duty deputy, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Pettis County.
Hannah Fizer, 25, was shot and killed in Sedalia in June after a Pettis County deputy pulled her over. Early reports indicated Hannah told the deputy she had a gun and would shoot him, though no gun was found in her vehicle.
John Fizer filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Pettis County . . . seeking damages against the deputy. The lawsuit argues the shooting was unjustified, an excessive use of force was used and that the deputy did not follow several standard law enforcement protocols during the stop, according to reporting by KSHB. John Fizer also said the deputy failed to deescalate the situation.
In September, special prosecutor Stephen Sokoloff said the shooting was justified. He mentioned the absence of body camera footage did make the decision more difficult.
The deputy was placed on leave but returned to the force in October.
From a report at kshb.com in Kansas City:
The family of Hannah Fizer alleges that “no reasonable officer” would have shot and killed her under the circumstances during a traffic stop on June 13, 2020.
Fizer’s father, John Fizer, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Pettis County court Wednesday seeking damages against Pettis County Deputy Jordan Schutte.
Schutte fatally shot Fizer, 25, after pulling her over in Sedalia, Missouri.
Early reports indicated Fizer told the deputy she had a gun and would shoot him, though no gun was found in her vehicle.
The lawsuit argues the shooting was an unjustified, an excessive use of force and that Schutte did not follow several standard law enforcement protocols during the stop.
Fizer’s family claims Schutte failed to try to deescalate the situation in any way, and instead took an offensive approach.
When the deputy felt he was in danger, the lawsuit alleges he did not call for backup or take a defensive position as commonly taught in “universally accepted police procedures.”
Instead, he moved toward the front of Fizer’s car into a better firing position, according to the suit.
“Schutte had the ability and responsibility to prevent the use of deadly force against Ms. Fizer but failed to do so,” the lawsuit reads. “His actions contributed to Ms. Fizer’s avoidable death.”
The family says Schutte made several claims contrary to video evidence.
Bryan Turner White, of Independence, MO, is serving as attorney for the Fizer family.
