Mother Of Teen Shot By Police Sues City Of Austin

Austin, TX -- The mother of a teenager shot dead by a police officer when the young man was running through his neighborhood naked and unarmed is suing the city over his death.

Kelly Sully staged a press conference with her surviving son and attorney Jeff Edwards on Wednesday to disclose her pending litigation. She took the step after former officer Geoffrey Freeman was cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury for the Feb. 8 killing of David Joseph, 17.

Freeman was later fired from the force over the shooting, and is attempting to get his job back. The police union is assisting him in trying to regain his job -- particularly its president Ken Casaday, who is currently being investigated after being caught on video punching a restrained suspect in the back of the head.

Sully is suing the city for unspecified damages.

The killing of the teenager was widely condemned -- particularly in the black community -- given that Joseph was unarmed at the time. He also was unclothed, giving rise to the theory he was in the throes of a mental breakdown rather than intent on criminal behavior.