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  • The Yonkers Ledger

    Family of Robbery Suspect Killed by Police Wins $87k Settlement

    By Samantha Minaya,

    2024-03-11

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0s13a9_0roiAbCJ00

    The City of Yonkers approved a settlement of $87,500 to resolve a federal lawsuit filed by family members of a bank robbery suspect who was fatally shot by an FBI agent and local police officers in 2017.

    Catching a career criminal

    Erick Campbell, 48, was on parole six weeks prior to being suspected of robbing two banks. The first was a Chase Bank in Tarrytown in November 2017. Then in early December, another Chase Bank in Greenburgh. The perpetrator fled that scene in a stolen red Oldsmobile.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0evvXw_0roiAbCJ00
    Erick Campbell – NYS Dept. of Corrections

    FBI special agents began surveillance of that Oldsmobile after local police discovered it in Yonkers on Dec. 14. The investigative team soon grew to include law enforcement officers from Yonkers , Tarrytown, and Westchester County –totaling 13 individuals in the task force.

    The following afternoon, Campbell entered the vehicle under the eye of the surveillance team. Several agents then converged on Campbell's stolen car, both on foot and in their own vehicles. After attempting to prevent his escape by boxing him in; Campbell retaliated. He intentionally rammed the police vehicles in an attempt to flee.

    21 shots fired

    At that point, several officers claimed to have seen Campbell draw a pistol. After pointing the weapon in the direction of officers, Yonkers Police Detective Timothy Cooper fired at Erick Campbell. He continued shooting from four feet away until he emptied his weapon–16 shots in total.

    Upon hearing these gunshots, Fellow YPD officer Braig also opened fire. He shot three times before seeing Campbell's hands go down. FBI Special Agent Brendan Kenney also fired two shots.

    Of the 21 rounds discharged by law enforcement, 10 struck their target, Erick Campbell. He was taken to hospital and was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

    The family sues and settles

    In 2020, the family of Erick Campbell sued the City of Yonkers in federal court. Beyond the claim of excessive force leading to Campbell's wrongful death, the family also questioned the details of the detectives' story. While there was a gun found in the possession of Campbell, it was a replica that supposedly had no fingerprints and the snowy conditions at the time of the incident would have precluded Cooper from clearly witnessing Campbell reach for the pistol. While some of these more fringe theories left the court unconvinced, the core allegation of wrongful death persisted.

    Facing a jury trial, the City of Yonkers settled the case for $87,500. This figure is estimated to be at least would have spent on legal fees if the case had reached trial.

    In a statement from the City of Yonkers reported by Journal News , the City asserts that it “ fully supports its police department and its members who are well-trained professionals who risk their lives every day to keep their community safe .”

    So, while the City approved the settlement, it maintains its stance that excessive force was not used. Ultimately, that the death of Erick Campbell was justified considering the “ life-threatening circumstances ” faced by its police officers.

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