In 2011, Officer Lee Cooper was involved in the fatal shooting of Christopher Villareal during a traffic stop. Villareal was shot nine times. A lawsuit filed by Villareal’s family alleged excessive force and violation of the Fourth Amendment. In 2015, a judge allowed the case to proceed, denying motions to dismiss the claims against Officer Cooper and the City of Kennewick. The court also denied Officer Cooper’s claim to qualified immunity, making him personally liable. The outcome of the lawsuit is not specified in the available sources.
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