Lakewood Police Respond To $15M Leonard Thomas Killing Verdict

LAKEWOOD, WA - The Lakewood police department on Wednesday took to Facebook to respond to the verdict handed down last week in a federal civil suit over the 2013 killing of Leonard Thomas in Fife by a Lakewood police sniper. The jury awarded Thomas' family a total of nearly $15 million for damages they suffered after Thomas was shot and killed after a standoff over a domestic dispute.

The department released an official statement after the verdict was handed down last week, but Wednesday's statement appears more personal. On Wednesday, the department said that it has received support from local residents, despite being portrayed as "lying, racist murderers" during the trial.

"We once again find ourselves in the position of expressing our gratitude to the citizens of Lakewood. This time it is in response to the federal trial verdict that came out last Friday. We went from the incident in 2013 where our sincere motivation was the safety and welfare of a 4 year old child to being portrayed 4 years later as lying, racist murderers. The fact that 7 jurors believed that portrayal is both incomprehensible and demoralizing. What has helped tremendously, though, has been the phone calls, emails, and general words of support from the people in Lakewood who believe in us and recognize our true character and identity. We are eternally grateful," the Facebook post read.

Lakewood police responded to a Fife home in May 2013 as part of a response by the Pierce County Metro SWAT team. Initial reports indicated that Thomas, 30, was involved in a domestic dispute. After an approximately four-hour standoff, Thomas emerged on his porch holding his 4-year-old in his arms. He was unarmed.

Lakewood police sniper Brian Markert fired a single shot from 90 yards away; the bullet hit Thomas in the abdomen, and he later died. Lakewood police have said that they opened fire on Thomas because they believed the boy was in danger, and that Thomas was going to use him as a human shield.

In its verdict, the jury found Markert, Chief Mike Zaro, and Lakewood office Mike Wiley, a SWAT team commander, liable for $5.5 million in damages. A key piece of testimony was a quote where Wiley appears to dismiss claims by Thomas' wife that there were no weapons in the home. Thomas did have a previous conviction for a shooting.

"[The wife says] ‘No he ain’t got no gun, blah blah blah.’ I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that and found weapons," Wiley was quoted as saying.

The jury found the Lakewood and Fife departments responsible for the remaining damages.

Image via Lakewood police