City will pay $450K to Scott’s family
Settlement is for Black man killed by cops in 2016
San Antonio agreed on Thursday to pay $450,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Antronie Scott, an unarmed Black man who was shot and killed by a police officer in 2016.
The City Council unanimously voted Thursday to settle with Scott’s widow, mother and son.
“I don’t think any amount of money would be enough, and my heart goes out to the family and anyone who was hurt by the actions of the officer,” said District 2 Councilman Jalen Mckeerodriguez. “I hope they get peace and closure out of this.”
Scott’s widow, Elena Sprawling-scott,
and his mother, Diane Peppar, sued the city in the days after Scott’s death, alleging that the officer’s conduct amounted to “excessive, unjustified and unnecessary use of force” and that the San Antonio Police Department’s policy and procedure manual offered flawed guidance on when, where, why and how to deploy it.
Their lawsuits were eventually consolidated into one seeking punitive damages as well as compensatory damages for funeral costs and attorney’s
fees.
The settlement was announced April 18, three days before a federal trial was scheduled to begin. The City Council signed off on it Thursday.
“This settlement is in the best interest of the city and the community,” City Attorney Andy Segovia said. “By settling, we avoid what could be a lengthy trial and appeal process and allow all parties to move forward.”
The money will be divided equally among Scott-sprawling; Scott’s son, Antronie Scott Jr.; and Peppar. Each will receive $150,000 from the city’s liability
fund.
Scott-sprawling and Scott Jr. are represented by Robert Wilson of the Law Offices of Thomas J. Henry, while Peppar is represented by Daryl Washington of the Washington Law Firm, according to the council’s meeting agenda.
“The funds will be disbursed at one time to each of the plaintiffs,” city spokeswoman Laura Mayes said.
Antronie Scott, 36, was wanted on two felony warrants for drug and weapon possession when undercover officers followed him to the Wood Hollow Apartments in the 10300 block of Sahara Street at about 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 4, 2016. They then requested
a uniformed officer approach Scott to make the arrest,
according to Police Chief William Mcmanus.
Nearing Scott’s white Mercedes sedan, John Lee, an 11-year SAPD veteran, ordered Scott to show him his hands, Mcmanus said. As Scott exited the car and turned to face Lee, Lee fired into his upper torso.
Scott died at the scene in front of his wife, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the sedan.
Explaining his decision to shoot, Lee said Scott spun around rapidly while holding an object Lee thought was a gun. The object turned out to be a cell phone — an iphone 4, according to Scott’s son.
Mckee-rodriguez said he believed prejudice influenced the outcome of the encounter.
“The thing that made it possible for an officer to kill an unarmed black man is the systemic biases that exist, and those are things I hope to continue to challenge,”
he said, adding the settlement represents “a call for greater justice.”
Immediately following the shooting, Mcmanus placed Lee on administrative leave and issued a contemplated indefinite suspension, a disciplinary action tantamount to firing.
While Mcmanus soon reversed course, lifting the suspension in favor of providing Lee with more training, his handling of the situation was heavily criticized by the police union. Members made their displeasure known with a vote of no confidence in Mcmanus that March.
Lee left the department on Feb. 13, 2020, according to Texas Commission on Law Enforcement records. He died that July.