ST. LOUIS - Tyron Edwards filed a lawsuit in October in St. Louis City Circuit Court against the City of St. Louis, Ryan Murphy and Thomas Streckfuss for excessive force.
According to the lawsuit, in October 2016, Edwards, 14 at the time, was walking unarmed when he was shot in the back by members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department while Defendants were in pursuit of a suspect. Defendants found Edwards waiting at Walbridge School for a friend, and due to the officers running at Edwards with their guns drawn, Edwards says he got scared and began running away, causing the Defendants to chase him in pursuit.
Edwards was caused to suffer deprivation of his rights to be a secure person, the suit says, and to be free against unreasonable search and seizure. The suit says he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment and his right to life, liberty and property was violated.
Edwards seeks an award for punitive damages, attorney's fees and cost of suit. Edwards is represented by Jerryl T. Christmas of St. Louis. The defendant removed the case to federal court on Dec. 2.