Joseph Curtis Mann, a 51-year-old African-American man, was killed on July 11, 2016, in Sacramento, California. Mann, who suffered from mental illness and was homeless at the time, was reported to the police by residents who claimed he was acting erratically and carrying a knife. The initial responding officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by ordering Mann to drop the knife and get on the ground.
However, Mann did not comply and instead threw a thermos at the police cruiser and continued to walk down Del Paso Boulevard, shouting threats.
The situation escalated when officers Randy Lozoya and John Tennis arrived on the scene. Dash cam footage later revealed that the officers attempted to run Mann over with their police cruiser before exiting the vehicle and pursuing him on foot. The officers fired 18 shots, 14 of which struck Mann, resulting in his death. The incident was captured on multiple dash cam videos and a passerby's cellphone, which showed Mann raising his arms three times before being shot.
The killing of Joseph Mann sparked significant public outcry and protests, particularly from the Black Lives Matter movement, which criticized the police for their handling of the situation and demanded the release of the dash cam footage. The Sacramento Police Department initially withheld the videos but eventually released them under pressure from city officials and the public.
In January 2017, Sacramento District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert concluded that the officers were justified in their actions, stating that Mann posed a danger to bystanders and store owners in the area. However, this decision was met with controversy, as surveillance footage suggested that Mann was not as threatening as the officers claimed. The coroner's report also indicated that Mann had methamphetamine in his system at the time of his death.
The Mann family filed a lawsuit against the city of Sacramento, arguing that the police had depicted Joseph Mann as a dangerous criminal rather than a person suffering from mental illness. The case went through various legal proceedings, and in a significant ruling, the 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals allowed Mann's siblings to sue the city, a decision that could have national implications for similar cases. The family's attorney, Mark Merin, emphasized the importance of recognizing the relationships between siblings and other close family members in such legal matters.
The officers involved in the shooting, Randy Lozoya and John Tennis, eventually left the Sacramento Police Department. The case of Joseph Mann remains a poignant example of the complexities and controversies surrounding police use of force, particularly in incidents involving individuals with mental health issues.
