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St. Petersburg, police officers prevail in federal lawsuit filed by estate of man killed in 2013

 
Ronald Sexton, 23, was shot and killed by St. Petersbrug police officers in 2013. His estate sued the officers and the City of St. Petersburg in federal court, but on Thursday the officers and the city prevailed. [Courtesy of Sexton family]
Ronald Sexton, 23, was shot and killed by St. Petersbrug police officers in 2013. His estate sued the officers and the City of St. Petersburg in federal court, but on Thursday the officers and the city prevailed. [Courtesy of Sexton family]
Published April 28, 2017

TAMPA — A federal jury on Thursday ruled in favor of the City of St. Petersburg and three of its police officers in a civil lawsuit over the fatal 2013 police shooting of Ronald Sexton, according to city officials.

The lawsuit led to a week-long trial that ended Thursday with the jury ruling that the shooting was not an excessive use of force and that, due to his intoxication, Sexton at least 50 percent responsible for his death.

"(Officers) resort to deadly force at absolutely the last possible moment," Assistant City Attorney Joseph Patner said after the verdict. "The (officers) waited until the last possible moment, and that's ultimately what the jury found."

But Michael Maddux, one of the attorney's for Sexton's estate, said the officers acted rashly.

"Officers (ought to) remember that their shootings really do tear apart families, whether they really are found justifiable," he said. "This shooting could have been avoided if they had a different plan."

The incident took place on Labor Day 2013. Police said that at about 1:30 a.m., a neighbor reported that Sexton, 23, had pulled a gun on him during an argument over the neighbor's barking dog.

When police arrived, they said they found Sexton on his front porch and ordered him onto the ground. Police said that he started to comply, but then pulled a gun on the officers.

Officers Nicolo Mangiaracina, Michael Romano and Justin Morales fired a total of 17 rounds at Sexton, killing him.

The St. Petersburg Police Department ruled the homicide justified in November 2013.

Then in December 2014, Sexton's estate filed suit against the city and officers, saying that Sexton was complying when officers fired on him.

Maddux said the estate was seeking $9.5 million in damages for Sexton's 10-year-old son.