Family of Korryn Gaines Files $4M Suit After Fatal Shooting in Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — The family of Korryn Gaines, who was fatally shot by police on Aug. 1 in her Randallstown apartment, is suing the Baltimore County Police Department for $4 million.

Relatives of the deceased 23-year-old announced details of the suit at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Gaines was fatally shot after police said she threatened a tactical officer with a Mossberg shotgun during a barricade situation in the unit block of Sulky Court in Randallstown.

Her mother, Rhanda Gaines, and her boyfriend, Kareem Courtney, are suing the Baltimore County Police Department and Officer Ruby — who shot Korryn Gaines— for $2 million each, claiming excessive force, gross negligence, wrongful death and suppression of speech.

The standoff started at approximately 9:40 a.m. when officers arrived at the apartment to serve arrest warrants for Gaines and her boyfriend, Kareem K. Courtney, 39. Gaines was wanted for failing to appear related to a March 10 traffic stop when officials pulled over her Toyota Camry because it had no license plate. Courtney had a warrant for his arrest related to an assault on Gaines; police later charged him with distributing heroin from the apartment.

Before 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 1, Gaines said she would come out if the police put their guns down and backed up from her apartment, according to an account her neighbor provided through her attorneys. When police did not retreat, she told them to leave.

The deadly confrontation ended around 3 p.m. after police said Gaines pointed a shotgun at a tactical officer and threatened to shoot him. Authorities said there was an exchange of gunfire between an officer and Gaines, who fired two rounds from the shotgun, but did not strike police.

Gaines tried to live stream the events as they unfolded on Facebook, and the Baltimore County Police Department intervened to ensure the broadcast was blocked. "By blocking her live streaming, the Baltimore County Police Department not only suppressed he[r] speech under the Maryland Constitution but also stopped the only independent visual video record of what was taking place before Officer Ruby killed her," the letter from her attorney states.

The Baltimore County Police Department announced after the shooting that none of its officers had been wearing body cameras that showed what happened inside the building.

A neighbor whose apartment was allegedly commandeered for the purpose of a stakeout said that what happened was wrong. "Nobody should die like that, under a misdemeanor warrant," neighbor Ramone Coleman said in a press conference Tuesday.

Coleman said that police commandeered his apartment to conduct surveillance on Gaines, drilling holes in his walls to be able to see her. In addition, he said that Gaines requested to see a copy of the warrant, which was not provided to her.

It was an "unfortunate situation" and "of course we are always going to investigate..." Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz told WJZ of the case.

• Police ID Officer Who Shot Korryn Gaines
• Boyfriend of Korryn Gaines Facing Drugs and Weapons Charges
• Woman Killed by Police Said They Would Have to 'Murder' Her
• 5-Year-Old Was Injured by Police in Randallstown Standoff: Officials
• Protesters Arrested at Cop Conference in Baltimore

Photo of Korryn Gaines, courtesy of Baltimore County Police Department.