SEATTLE — A jury awarded over $30 million to the family of a teenager shot and killed during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP) in 2020, concluding a trial that centered on the city’s emergency response to the incident. The King County jury deliberated for 12 days before determining that Seattle’s negligence contributed to the death of 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr.
The jury’s decision came after the family of Mays argued that inadequate emergency services dramatically affected the outcome of the shooting. Following Mays’ injury, witnesses attempted to transport him to medical assistance themselves as first responders remained outside the protest zone, which saw significant unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Witnesses reported trying to flag down an ambulance that ultimately drove away, leaving them waiting over 20 minutes before receiving help.
Attorneys for Mays’ family posited that prompt medical care could have possibly saved his life. Mays suffered a gunshot wound to the head in a stolen vehicle, alongside a 14-year-old companion who also sustained injuries but survived. The city’s defense claimed that Mays was unlikely to have survived the shooting regardless of the timing of medical intervention.
The verdict included $4 million designated for Mays’ estate and an additional $26 million to his father, Antonio Mays Sr. Emotions ran high in the courtroom as Mays Sr. embraced his attorney while the verdict was read. The case brought attention to the broader issues of police accountability and community safety that have sparked protests across the nation.
In June 2020, demonstrators, outraged by Floyd’s killing by police in Minneapolis, established CHOP in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, taking control of eight city blocks. This occupation, which lasted approximately three weeks, garnered national attention and criticism from political figures, including former President Donald Trump.
Tragically, Mays was shot in a white Jeep near CHOP on June 29, with witnesses asserting that individuals defending the protest zone fired at their vehicle. Despite claims on social media platforms about the shooting, no arrests or charges have been made in connection with the incident, leaving many questions unanswered.
Mays had traveled from Southern California to join the protests, leaving behind a note for his father expressing his desire to make him proud but not revealing his destination. Following his disappearance, Mays Sr. reported him missing, only to receive the devastating news shortly thereafter.
During the trial, King County Superior Court Judge Sean O’Donnell prohibited the city from arguing that Mays’ alleged felony theft of the Jeep absolved it from responsibility in his death. The judge emphasized that, regardless of any potential criminal activity, the circumstances surrounding Mays’ death were to be examined on their own merits.
The city attorney’s office released a statement calling Mays’ death a profound tragedy and expressed their intention to explore legal options moving forward. The outcome of this case highlights the ongoing debate around public safety and emergency response protocols, particularly during times of civil unrest.