The Family of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield Files Lawsuit Against City of Aurora
The family of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield has taken legal action against the city of Aurora following his tragic death in an August shooting incident. Belt-Stubblefield, an unarmed Black man, was fatally shot by an Aurora police officer during a traffic stop at the age of 37. The incident was witnessed by his 18-year-old son, Zion Murphy. Two notices of claim have been filed, one on behalf of Belt-Stubblefield’s family and another on behalf of his son, as a precursor to filing a lawsuit against the city.
Accompanied by their attorney, Milo Schwab, the family held a press conference to announce the legal action. They expressed concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the shooting and called for accountability for officer Matthew Neely, the officer who fired the fatal shots. Neely’s identity had not been disclosed by the police department at the time.
During the incident on the night of the shooting, Neely attempted to pull over Belt-Stubblefield for speeding and a possible DUI. Belt-Stubblefield fled the scene, resulting in a collision with two vehicles. Despite being armed, he discarded his handgun before approaching the officer. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain stated that Belt-Stubblefield disregarded commands to stop, leading to a confrontation where he raised his fists towards the officer.
According to the notices of claim submitted by Schwab, the sequence of events differed from the police department’s account. It is alleged that Neely immediately pointed his weapon at Belt-Stubblefield upon his exit from the vehicle. Belt-Stubblefield pleaded with the officer not to shoot him as he discarded his gun. Subsequently, Neely attempted to restrain Belt-Stubblefield, resulting in a physical altercation where the officer fell to the ground. The claim asserts that Belt-Stubblefield did not exhibit aggressive behavior and tried to walk away.
The situation escalated further as Neely pursued Belt-Stubblefield, shoving him and delivering a blow to the back of his head. This led to a series of shots being fired, resulting in Belt-Stubblefield’s tragic death at the scene. Schwab highlighted the lack of communication from the city and the absence of disciplinary action against the officer in the six months since the incident.
The shooting incident attracted national attention, prompting civil rights attorney Ben Crump to engage with Belt-Stubblefield’s family and condemn the actions that led to his death.
Aurora has faced scrutiny for police brutality in recent years, notably following the killing of Elijah McClain in 2019. The 23-year-old unarmed Black man died during a violent arrest, sparking widespread outrage and calls for justice. The city reached a $15 million settlement with McClain’s parents following a civil rights lawsuit.
Subsequent to McClain’s death, the Aurora Police Department was placed under a consent decree by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser due to findings of racially biased policing and excessive use of force. Past instances of police-involved fatalities in Aurora, including the cases of Naeschylus Carter-Vinzant and Kilyn Lewis, have also raised concerns and led to legal action against the city.
The family of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield’s pursuit of justice through legal channels underscores the ongoing challenges related to police conduct and accountability in Aurora and beyond.
