The city of Birmingham has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit involving the 2019 fatal shooting of Jamarcus Moore and the wounding of Samantha Hardin by police officer Aric Mitchell. This settlement follows an initial federal jury award of $4.5 million, which was later reduced to $2.75 million before being appealed.
Fatal Shooting Followed High-Speed Chase
On June 15, 2019, Officer Aric Mitchell initiated a traffic stop after reportedly detecting the smell of marijuana from Moore’s vehicle. Moore fled the scene, leading police on a high-speed chase through six municipalities. The chase ended when Mitchell intentionally collided with Moore’s car.
Within seconds of exiting his vehicle, Mitchell fired multiple shots into Moore’s car, fatally striking Moore and injuring Hardin, who was in the passenger seat. Moore was pronounced dead at the scene, and Hardin suffered a broken leg.
Conflicting Accounts and Bodycam Evidence
Mitchell initially told investigators that Moore had reached for his gun and that a physical altercation occurred before the shooting. However, body camera footage contradicted this narrative, showing Mitchell firing into the car from several feet away without verbal commands.
David Rockett, commander of Internal Affairs for the Birmingham Police Department, testified during the trial that the situation could have been resolved without deadly force. Rockett said Mitchell should have ordered Moore out of the vehicle and taken him into custody.
Settlement Brings Closure After Long Legal Battle
Civil rights attorney Johnathan Austin, representing Moore’s family and Hardin, emphasized the significance of the jury’s finding that Officer Mitchell used excessive force.
“The monetary value was not as important as the acknowledgment of wrongdoing,” Austin said. “Our clients wanted justice, and justice was served.”
Although the settlement does not include an admission of liability by the city, Austin noted it provides closure for Moore’s and Hardin’s families.
Council Approval and Public Reaction
The Birmingham City Council approved the $750,000 settlement last week without public discussion during its meeting. The settlement, which has yet to be signed, concludes a legal battle spanning over six years.
“Every Thanksgiving, every Christmas, every birthday, they’re going to miss him — but they’re not going to have to relive this in the public,” Austin said of Moore’s family.