The Phoenix Police Department is facing a new lawsuit from the family of a 64-year-old man named Stanley Howard, who was shot and killed by police on the night of July 8 last year.
That night, Howard was in crisis — he suffered from severe schizophrenia and depression and had called police multiple times asking for help. He had a history of interactions with officers often related to his mental illness. But when he brandished a red, plastic water gun at officers that night, he was shot 10 times by police.
Now, his family’s lawsuit becomes yet another civil rights case the department is facing at the same time it is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for misconduct.
The Phoenix New Times’ Katya Schwenk reported the story; and The Show spoke with her to learn the details.
