Appeals court rules against Logan estate in suit against O'Neill, city
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The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against the estate of Eric Logan in the estate's civil lawsuit against the city of South Bend and former South Bend Police Sergeant Ryan O'Neill. Logan's estate alleged O'Neill used excessive force and violated equal protection laws.
The estate's lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge in September 2021, but the estate appealed to the 7th Circuit. The case was argued before the 7th Circuit in September 2022 and an opinion was released on Monday.
The fatal shooting happened in the parking lot of an apartment building at 110 N. William Street around 3:30 a.m. on June 16, 2019.
Official reports and the court record said O'Neill ordered Logan to drop the knife in his hand during the encounter, but he failed to drop it.
The official report says O'Neill fired two shots from his pistol, then Logan threw his knife at O'Neill. Logan was shot and transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
The estate alleged Sgt. O'Neill's use of deadly force violated Logan's rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth amendments of the constitution. It also alleged Logan was targeted for his race. The estate also alleged the city of South Bend was responsible for O'Neill's actions through its policies and practices.
A lower court ruled against the estate and the 7th Circuit upheld the decision on appeal.
The appeals court said in its lawsuit, the estate alleged O'Neill shot after Logan threw the knife, which meant Logan was no longer a threat to the officer. The appeals court disagreed.
The opinion states even if O'Neill shot after Logan threw the knife, Logan was still standing and still posed a threat and was advancing towards O'Neill when he fired.
The fact that O'Neill did not fire more than two shots at Logan showed he used only the force necessary to stop the threat and ruled in favor of O'Neill and against the estate.
Read all of ABC57's stories about the fatal shooting of Eric Logan