The future of a $1.2 million settlement is in the hands of the Phoenix City Council as they prepare to vote on a wrongful death lawsuit linked to a 2019 incident. This legal case involves the death of Henry Rivera, and the settlement funds are intended for his four minor children, who were reportedly on the brink of homelessness before Rivera secured a job as a handyman at a local hotel.
The backdrop to this case involves Phoenix police on the hunt for a suspect in a double murder during the same period. Acting on intelligence, a strong police presence was dispatched to the hotel where Rivera worked. In a state of panic, Rivera attempted to flee, taking a car in his escape, before trying to surrender. Tragically, officers shot Rivera in the back without confirming his identity first.
The actual murder suspect was apprehended shortly after the incident. This case is part of a broader concern over police conduct in Phoenix, with officer-involved shootings reportedly increasing under the leadership of Chief Matt Giordano. Giordano has publicly acknowledged the issue and has set forth a series of reforms aimed at addressing these incidents.
In response to this and other recent occurrences, activist groups are organizing a news conference to coincide with the council’s meeting, demanding greater accountability from law enforcement for the series of police shootings.
