In the early hours of May 4, 2016, a search for a parking spot in Philadelphia's Overbrook neighborhood ended in the death of 52-year-old Richard Ferretti. An unarmed man, Ferretti was fatally shot by a Philadelphia police officer, an event that would lead to a years-long quest for answers and accountability by his family. The incident began when police received a call about a suspicious minivan circling the area near Saint Joseph's University.
Undercover officers began following
Ferretti's vehicle. They called for backup, and a marked police car with its lights flashing pulled in behind him. According to police reports, Ferretti did not immediately stop. The undercover officers then pulled their vehicle in front of his minivan to block his path. It was at this point that the situation escalated. Police stated that after exiting their vehicle and ordering Ferretti to turn off his engine, he accelerated toward them. In what was described as a moment of feeling threatened, Officer Shannon Coolbaugh fired his weapon multiple times, striking Ferretti. Witnesses, however, offered a different account, claiming they heard Ferretti yell, 'I'm stopping!' just before the shots were fired. Ferretti was unarmed, and his family maintained he was simply trying to find a place to park.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office conducted an investigation. In May 2018, the DA announced that no criminal charges would be filed against Officer Coolbaugh. The prosecutor's office concluded that the officer was 'legally justified' in his use of deadly force, stating that he reasonably believed he was in danger of serious injury or death. This decision meant there would be no criminal trial for the officer involved in Richard Ferretti's death.
Disappointed and still seeking a form of justice, Ferretti's family filed a civil lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia and Officer Coolbaugh. The lawsuit alleged that the officer had used excessive force and violated police department policy. After a legal battle that spanned over four years, the city of Philadelphia reached a settlement with Richard Ferretti's relatives in early 2022, agreeing to pay them $300,000.
