John Paul Quintero’s family sends Wichita notice of claim after fatal shooting by police

Dallas-based attorneys representing the family of a man shot and killed by a Wichita police officer sent a letter to the city last month seeking $10 million.

Thomas Bowers, one of the two lawyers, said they have not yet received a response from the city.

“We’ll probably be filing a lawsuit in the next couple of weeks,” Bowers said. “If they don’t meet our demands, then it’s going to play out in court.”

Jennifer Magana, an attorney representing the city, confirmed it had received the notice of claim but would not comment further.

John Paul Quintero died on Jan. 3. Police and family accounts differ on what happened that day, and the family has publicly protested against a perceived lack of transparency, demanding justice for Quintero.

Police accounts have said Quintero was belligerent and reaching for his waistband when he was shot twice by the officer, whose name has not been released. Bowers has said witnesses saw Quintero with his hands up and his back to officers when he was shot.

District Attorney Marc Bennett said Tuesday the investigation into Quintero’s shooting is ongoing and that he did “not have a date for the expected resolution of this investigation.”

“Every report, interview item of evidence and forensic analysis is reviewed during this process,” he said. “When the review is complete and a decision is made, a public announcement will be made.”

On Wednesday, the family plans to deliver a Change.org petition with nearly 90,000 signatures to the local FBI office, calling for a federal investigation into the shooting.

D’Juan Wash, communications director for Sunflower Community Action, said in a news release Tuesday that the group was “demanding the release of the officers’ name responsible for his death.”

Bowers said “the city has had ample opportunity to do the right thing.”

“They’re yet again dealing with an opportunity to do the right thing,” he said of the request for $10 million. “We’ll see what they’re made of. We’ll see if they’ll fess up and admit that they’re wrong, and get some justice to the family.”

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 5:33 PM with the headline "John Paul Quintero’s family sends Wichita notice of claim after fatal shooting by police."