JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (CN) - When a black man called the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office to report that someone was trying to break into his hotel room, sheriff's Officer Bobby Boatwright responded by shooting him to death in his room, then planting a gun by the corpse, according to a federal complaint.
The survivors claim the sheriff's office has a policy of planting bogus evidence after shooting peaceable people to death.
Antonio Whetstone was shot to death in the North Florida Inn on Dec. 10, 2005, according to the complaint. The estate's representative sued the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, of Jasper, Fla., and Sheriff J. Harrell Reid.
Officer Boatwright is not named as a defendant.
The estate is represented by Reginald Luster of Jacksonville.
Read the Top 8
Sign up for the Top 8, a roundup of the day's top stories delivered directly to your inbox Monday through Friday.
Additional Reads
-
Jury finds Alex Murdaugh guilty of killing wife and son March 2, 2023 -
-
Gabby Petito family settles $3M suit in killing by fiance November 17, 2022 -
Report: Access to public records in Virginia courts October 12, 2022