Father of man shot by Seattle police on New Year's Eve sues the city

Mane Faletogo, the father of the 36-year-old man who was shot by a Seattle police officer after a traffic stop on New Year's Eve, is suing the city of Seattle and the officer who shot him for the loss of his son.

Body-cam footage released by the Seattle Police Department after the shooting showed Faletogo running from his car before being held down by several police officers on the ground. The video showed what police said was a stolen gun in Faletogo's hand at some points while he was on the ground, though it also showed his hands empty of the gun and flat on the ground when he was shot.

Just before he's shot, an officer says Faletogo was reaching, after which Faletogo can be heard responding that he wasn't.

The lawsuit, filed by Connelly Law attorney Lincoln Beauregard in federal court, claims that "use of lethal force was not necessary, and full de-escalation was never attempted."

Beauregard said his most pressing question is "whether what occurs on the video is true." He said his goal is to obtain "answers and justice" for Faletogo's family.

Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best said last month she had agreed to seek an outside review of the shooting by the Washington State Patrol. Beauregard said he anticipates his suit will likely be put on hold until that investigation concludes.

A spokesman from the City Attorney’s office said the office was reviewing the complaint.