Family Sues Aurora Officer for Fatal Shooting of Unarmed Man

The family of Rashaud Johnson, a 32-year-old Black man fatally shot by Aurora Police Officer Brandon Mills on May 12 near Denver International Airport, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging excessive force and inadequate medical care. Johnson, reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis, was unarmed when shot after a physical altercation in which he grabbed a spare ammunition magazine from the officer. Body camera footage shows Johnson ignoring commands to get on the ground and walking toward Mills before being shot. The lawsuit claims the officer escalated the situation, failed to disengage or wait for backup, and did not provide immediate medical aid after the shooting. This case is the second this year accusing Aurora police of excessive force against unarmed individuals, reflecting broader concerns about the department’s handling of mental health crises and racial discrimination. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain defended the officer’s actions, citing a perceived deadly threat, while attorneys for Johnson’s family argue that the situation was mishandled from the start.