The family of a Tucson man shot and killed during a struggle with a Pima County sheriffβs deputy last summer has filed a $7.5 million wrongful-death claim against the county.
Claudia Gastelum and Wilberto Llanes Sr. are each asking for a $3.75 million settlement in the wrongful death of their son, Marcos Gastelum, who died last August, according to a preliminary claim filed in Pima County Superior Court last month.
Shortly before 7:30 p.m., Deputy Koby Knodle, who is named as a defendant in the claim, responded to reports of a man taking photographs of children and trying to lure them toward his vehicle, said Deputy Ryan Inglett, a sheriffβs department spokesman.
Knodle identified the suspects vehicle and followed it into a driveway near South San Joaquin and West Bopp Road. Both men got out of their cars and Gastelum, 24, βbecame physically aggressiveβ and began fighting with Knodle, Inglett said.
The pair ended up on the ground and Knodle shot Gastelum, who was airlifted to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, Inglett said.
The claim says that Knodle acted negligently and Gastelum died as a result.
Chief Deputy Attorney Amelia Cramer has previously told the Star that the Pima County Attorneyβs Office does not comment on pending civil cases.
