Family of teen to file $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against Cobb County police

COBB COUNTY, Ga. - The attorney for the family of a teen shot and killed by a Cobb County police officer last summer said he plans to file a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the county.

Attorney Gerald Griggs represents the family of 17-year-old Vincent Truitt. Griggs said he plans to formally announce a $50 million lawsuit on Friday morning, one of the largest lawsuits in a police shooting case.

The teen was shot during the investigation of a stolen car near the intersection of South Service Road and Riverside Parkway on July 13, 2020. The Cobb County Police Department said officers spotted a car with three men inside and attempted to pull the vehicle over. The car sped off and struck a police cruiser while attempting to escape, police added.

The GBI conducted an independent investigation, reporting when the fleeing vehicle came to a dead-end, two of the suspects ran, including the front passenger, Truitt. The agency said at some point Truitt "brandished" a handgun and was then shot by a police officer.

Truitt died at the hospital the following day. The Medical Examiner’s Officer ruled his death a homicide, reporting two gunshot wounds in the back.

The other two suspects, described by police as being a 17-year-old on an outstanding arrest warrant and a 15-year-old, were taken into custody.

"We asked the GBI director directly, ‘At any point, did Vincent Demario Truitt point a gun at law enforcement?’" Griggs described. "And the GBI director said, ‘No, he did not point a gun at law enforcement.’"

Family and friends are gathering at the EpiCenter in Cobb County demanding justice for 17-year-old Vincent Truitt on Oct. 3, 2020. (FOX 5)

Similarly, a statement from Cobb County police in November said, in part: "Mr. Truitt was armed with a handgun (in his hand) as he exited the vehicle. An officer running toward him observed the weapon and responded by drawing his issued weapon and firing two shots, striking Mr. Truitt both times.

The family saw the body camera video for the first time last November and said the 17-year-old posed no threat to police, reportedly asking the officer why he shot him.

Griggs also points out that Truitt was not the driver of the vehicle and that the teen's crime of gun possession did not rise to the level of a death sentence.

Vincent Truitt, 17, was shot and killed by a police officer in Cobb County (Gerald Griggs).

Cobb County police acknowledge the tragic nature of the case, but added, they respectfully disagree with some of the characterizations of what happened on July 13.

The GBI completed its investigation in early November and turned over the files to the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office. There have been no major developments since then.

Family and friends are gathering at the EpiCenter in Cobb County demanding justice for 17-year-old Vincent Truitt on Oct. 3, 2020. (FOX 5)

The family has taken their concerns to the GBI, the Cobb County District Attorney's Office, and county commissioners. There have also been a number of protests calling on county officials and state investigators to release the video to the public for the sake of transparency.

Griggs believes the lawsuit is now the only way to get their attention.

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