Family Of Black Virginia Teen Killed By Officer Reaches $1 Million Settlement

Steve Baggarly, Elisa Dickon, and Bishop Kendrick J. Turner all of Norfolk stand outside the Portsmouth Judicial Center, in Portsmouth, Va., Wednesday, July 27, 2016, as they wait for others to arrive for a rally in ... Steve Baggarly, Elisa Dickon, and Bishop Kendrick J. Turner all of Norfolk stand outside the Portsmouth Judicial Center, in Portsmouth, Va., Wednesday, July 27, 2016, as they wait for others to arrive for a rally in support of William Chapman II who was shot by Portsmouth police officer Stephen Rankin outside a Portsmouth Wal-Mart last year. The murder trial of Rankin begins this morning. (Bill Tiernan/The Virginian-Pilot via AP) MORE LESS
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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — The family of a black teen who was shot and killed by a white police officer last year says the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, has agreed to pay a $1 million settlement.

Family spokesman Earl Lewis Jr. told The Associated Press on Friday that the teen’s mother has verbally agreed to the figure but believes her son’s life was worth far more.

Lewis says the family recently filed a notice of intent to sue the city.

William Chapman II was shot outside a Wal-Mart by former Portsmouth police officer Stephen Rankin. The 18-year-old Chapman was suspected of shoplifting when a struggle ensued.

Rankin later lost his job. A jury convicted him last month of voluntary manslaughter before recommending a 2 ½ year prison sentence.

The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/2d5wsjF) first reported the settlement.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  1. Have all the police settlements paid for by collecting a special assessment on property tax bills, and you will have whitened America screaming for saner police procedures, better screening of officers before hiring, and additional training programs after hiring strict limits on damage settlement by law-enforcement agencies.

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