While attempting to flee her violent spouse, Dachena Warren-Hil, a 20-year-old Black woman, was shot and killed by a Fort Wayne, Indiana, police officer. Her family is currently suing the police. The cops were on the scene of a domestic disturbance call on November 19, 2023.
The court filings state that Officer Mark Guzman answered the phone. Hill was attempting to flee her abuser, Cedric Brown, when he arrived at the scene.
According to reports, Guzman shot her, instantly killing her. Guzman first stated in his statement that he was concerned for his safety because he thought Hill was going to run him over. When his body camera was later examined, it was evident that Dachena was driving away from him rather than in his direction.
The family of Dachena has now filed a federal complaint, claiming that her death was unjustified.
Guzman, Brown, and former Fort Wayne Police Chief Steve Reed are named as defendants in the lawsuit, which is filed by Dachena’s mother, Danisha Warren.
According to the claim, the officer used needless and careless force. In addition, the lawsuit charges Brown with first responding to domestic violence that ultimately resulted in Dachena’s death and the city with improperly training the cops.
The family is being represented by attorney D. Eric Neff, who has said that Dachena did not immediately threaten the responding officer. The situation did not call for the employment of lethal measures.
According to Neff, she was a victim attempting to survive and was shot.
A 911 caller who claimed to have witnessed a car approaching the police has been referred by the prosecution. The call has been supported by police statements. But according to the family’s legal team, the caller misidentified the motorist as a man. The confusion may have resulted from this.
However, the discrepancy between the official story and the body-cam video was what stoked calls for the case’s transparency.
Following the weekend death of 22-year-old Linzell Parhm by a police officer, protests are still going on in downtown Fort Wayne.
In addition, the rally is calling for justice for Dachena Warren-Hill, 20, who was shot and killed by a member of the Fort Wayne Police Department in November.tweet.com/NqPVlBsZyg
June 27, 2024, Ethan Dahlen (@ethanjdahlen)
Danisha Warren has publicly mocked the department’s methodology.
She told reporters, “It’s like they’re trained to kill, not protect.” She went on to say that her daughter only needed assistance to leave the man who was abusing her and that her death was avoidable. She maintained that she was killed by the same people who were meant to support and shield her.
The family’s lawsuit draws attention to the structural problems with law enforcement. It specifically highlights how the government handles black women in critical situations.
Proponents contended that law enforcement personnel are not receiving adequate training. They cannot tell the difference between those who are mistreated and those who are abused. They do not believe that victims of domestic abuse require protection. Police often dismiss it as a normal argument that results in needless conflict.
Watch the body cam footage of Dachena Warren-Hill, a 20-year-old preschool teacher, who was killed by Fort Wayne police using necessary force.This link: https://t.co/yNT7RMm2qk
February 27, 2024, Jamarcus JT Turner (@MrMarcus260)
The case has sparked discussion on how police officers should respond to domestic abuse cases and the necessity for specialized training in victim safety and de-escalation, particularly when survivors are trying to escape.
Determining whether Guzman’s actions were warranted in this instance would probably depend heavily on the release of the full body-camera footage. According to the family, they seek for measures to guarantee that no other victim of domestic abuse suffers the same end as Dachena, in addition to justice for her.
