Closure for the family of Antwon Rose Jr. has been thwarted after a judge dismissed the wrongful death lawsuit linked to the 17-year-old’s shooting death last year.
CNN reports Judge Marilyn Horan threw out the lawsuit on October 29 and signed documents stating that the Rose family cannot reissue the same suit in the future. According to the lawsuit, the family of the slain teenager claims the borough of East Pittsburgh “maintained a policy and custom of failing to properly screen, train, supervise, discipline, transfer, counsel or otherwise control officers who are known to engage in excessive force.”
Following the dismissal of the lawsuit on Tuesday, the borough reportedly settled with the family for $2 million. The Rose family attorney, Lee Merritt, told The New York Times, that the family is not satisfied with the end result.
Michelle Kenney, the victim’s mother, wrote a string of Facebook posts expressing her dissatisfaction with the case.
While one of the family’s attorneys, Fred Rabner, told the NYT that the family settled “amicably” with the borough, Kenney said she did not receive adequate information about the settlement and never spoke with the executor of the estate for her son.
On June 27, 2018, East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld, who was sworn into the role just hours before, pulled over an unlicensed taxi during a traffic stop, as Blavity previously reported. According to NPR, the officer testified that Rose and another passenger fled the car, prompting Rosfeld to shoot the 17-year-old in the back, arm and side of the face. While Rosfeld believed the teen had a gun, it was later reported that Rose was unarmed.
In March, a jury acquitted the rookie officer of four counts of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter after only four days of trial.
The original lawsuit filed by the Rose family reportedly sought at least $1 million in damages for medical bills, funeral expenses and alleged use of excessive force.