LAS VEGAS (CN) - A Las Vegas police officer shot an unarmed, cooperative man in the stomach, from a false belief he was a homicide suspect, the wounded man claims in court.
Antoine Hodges sued the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Sheriff Douglas Gillespie and Officer Jason Evans, in Federal Court.
Hodges says in the lawsuit that he was paying for gas inside a 7-Eleven on Oct. 21, that "he had not done anything illegal and was not committing any crime." But "Evans entered the store with his gun drawn and demanded plaintiff to put his hands in the air misidentifying plaintiff to be a homicide suspect."
Hodges says he did as he was ordered: "Mr. Hodges raised one hand and attempted to place money, which was in his other hand, into his pocket. Mr. Hodges did not possess any weapon.
"Then, suddenly and without any warning whatsoever, defendant shot Mr. Hodges in the abdomen. Mr. Hodges was unarmed at the time.
"As Mr. Hodges lay on the ground, suffering excruciating pain and crying for help, defendant Evans handcuffed Mr. Hodges.
Hodges, 30, who is black, underwent emergency surgery and says he still suffers pain and physical impairment.
Hodges told the Las Vegas Sun that he felt the officer "played a racial card" in shooting him.
He seeks punitive damages for constitutional violations, excessive force, negligence, assault and battery, false arrest and false imprisonment and loss of consortium.
He is represented by Cal J. Potter.
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