Federal lawsuit calls Yakima police shooting unjustified

YAKIMA – The family of a 23-year-old man who was shot and killed by police in 2014 has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the officer involved and the city of Yakima.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reported that the lawsuit was filed on behalf of the estate of Rocendo Arias on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Yakima.

Arias was shot in January 2014 after police say he lunged toward Officer Casey Gillette while holding an airsoft gun.

The Yakima County Prosecutors’ Office found Gillette justified in the shooting.

The lawsuit alleges that Gillette was unjustified in shooting Arias, who was described as being asleep in his car before he was accosted by the police. The lawsuit says Gillette failed to follow department policy by not trying to wake Arias.