Police parents of deceased individual, shot and killed by Colorado law enforcement official during altercation, file lawsuit
In the heart of Aurora, Colorado, on May 12, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded that has since sparked widespread debate and scrutiny. Rashaud Johnson, a 32-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by Officer Brandon Mills in a parking lot near his home. Johnson was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis at the time.
The incident began with five 911 calls from parking lot employees, expressing concerns about Johnson's unusual behavior and emphasizing that he was unarmed and needed help, not confrontation. Despite these calls, only Officer Mills was dispatched, and body camera footage shows a physical altercation preceding the shooting.
The family of Rashaud Johnson has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Aurora Police Department, alleging that Officer Mills escalated the situation and failed to de-escalate or appropriately address Johnson’s mental health crisis. The family's lawyers emphasize that Johnson posed no imminent threat of serious bodily harm and that non-lethal options or mental health intervention were overlooked.
Bodycam footage indicates Johnson was unarmed, made giggling sounds, lunged but did not appear aware of the gun pointed at him, and engaged in a physical tussle with Mills before being shot. Mills fired two shots, striking Johnson, who then bled on the ground while Mills waited for backup.
The lawsuit alleges that Officer Mills shot Johnson twice in the chest, even though Johnson posed no threat. Mills could not be located for comment. The Aurora Police Department is reviewing the shooting, and investigations by the department and other agencies are ongoing. The district attorney is currently deciding whether the shooting was justified or if criminal charges should be filed.
The case has prompted significant scrutiny into Aurora's police response to mental health emergencies and questions about racial bias in law enforcement interactions. Johnson's mother, Taushica Carter, stated that her son was killed by someone who "thought they were God." The family contends the shooting reflects a pattern of racially discriminatory policing and inadequate handling of mental health crises by Aurora police.
The city and Officer Brandon Mills will be defended in the lawsuit by the office of attorney Schulte. Meanwhile, the parents of Rashaud Johnson express a desire for their son's memory to be remembered positively and for the community to understand the preventable loss.
As the investigation continues, the community waits for answers and accountability, hoping for reform in Aurora's policing practices and mental health crisis response.
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- The incident in Aurora, Colorado, on May 12, 2025, involving the fatal shooting of Rashaud Johnson, a 32-year-old Black man, has generated extensive media coverage and sparked ongoing debates about law enforcement's handling of mental health crises.
- The media attention on this case has spotlighted the need for improved mental health response within police departments, as well as questions regarding racial bias in such interactions.
- The shooting has led to an ongoing investigation by the Aurora Police Department, the district attorney, and several external agencies, with the outcome potentially resulting in reforms in both policing practices and mental health crisis response within the community.
- A community-wide desire for accountability and change has been ignited amid the growing sentiment that the shooting represents a pattern of racially discriminatory policing and an inadequate approach to addressing mental health crises.
- As the legal battle ensues, with the family filing a wrongful death lawsuit and the city and Officer Brandon Mills being defended by attorney Schulte, the case serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of health-and-wellness and mental-health resources, including in the area of crime-and-justice.
- Meanwhile, the family of Rashaud Johnson hopes the community will recognize the preventable loss of their son, remember him positively, and strive for progress in the realm of general-news and social justice, ensuring a safer and more equitable future for all.
