The
family of a man fatally shot by a Minneapolis officer has filed a lawsuit
claiming their son was unarmed and that police planted a gun at the scene.
Police say 19-year-old Fong Lee was carrying a gun in his hand during a chase
that ended with Officer Andersen firing several shots. A gun was found a few
feet from Lee's body. Police department sources strongly deny anyone but Lee
had the gun that day.
A
security camera video captures some of the chase between Officer
Andersen and Lee on school property in north Minneapolis. Lee's attorney hired
a forensics expert who says the video shows Lee's hand was empty. That opinion
contradicts police officials who said at a news conference shortly after the
July 2006 shooting that video did show Lee had a gun as he ran from Officer
Andersen. A State Patrol trooper who was with Officer Andersen that day also
gave MPD investigators a statement that he saw a gun in Lee's hand.
The
surveillance video will be a key piece of evidence Lee's family's attorney will
use to make their case to support the lawsuit.
A
Hennepin County grand jury cleared Officer Andersen and he later received the
department's Medal of Valor.
