Family of man killed by Philadelphia cop gets major settlement, but few answers
The city will pay David Jones' surviving relatives a major sum, but it does not change what was taken from them his father says
The city of Philadelphia has agreed to a $1 million settlement with the family of David Jones, who was killed in a June 2017 police shooting.
The unarmed Jones, 30, was shot twice in the back as he ran from officer Ryan Pownall on June 8, 2017. Pownall has since been charged with criminal homicide in the shooting, and remains held without bail.
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“The shooting death of David Jones was a tragic incident, and I hope this resolution will begin to assist his family in moving forward after what they have been through,” Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney said in a joint statement from the city and the Jones family. “My administration remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring all people in our city receive fair and equal treatment at the hands of law enforcement officials.”
Detainment Gone Awry
Police said Jones was riding a dirt bike in the Juniata neighborhood in Northeast Philly when Pownall stopped him. Pownall was transporting three people, including two children, in his patrol car to the Special Victims Unit at the time and deviating from it violated police policy.
Jones pulled into the parking lot of Casa de Espana, a nightclub, and Pownall followed, according to the grand jury report. Pownall claimed Jones suspiciously turned sideways, which justified frisking him, and he claimed to have felt a gun.
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According to the police report, an altercation ensued between Pownall and Jones where the officer attempted to shoot Jones, but his gun jammed. Jones broke free and ran from Pownall and sprinted toward an intersection, leaving his dirt bike.
Surveillance video showed Jones running empty-handed away from the officer when he was shot by Pownall. The officer fired at least three shots toward traffic, hitting Jones twice.
The video shows the second shot taking Jones to the ground. The second bullet cut through Jones’ spine, lung, aorta and esophagus, and was lodged just outside his heart.
Jones was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. No gun was found on Jones.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross said Pownall used bad judgment and that Jones had not posed an imminent threat.
“The use of deadly force by police officers in Philadelphia should be a last resort,” Ross said in the joint statement. “The PPD’s policy is that officers will use deadly force only where there is an immediate threat of death or serious physical injury to themselves or another person.
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“We continually find ways to improve police strategies and techniques, and to provide officers with comprehensive and up to date training on the use of deadly force,” he added. “At the same time, the PPD is committed to protecting and upholding civil rights in our city.”
Pownall was initially suspended for 30 days and then later fired last September. Despite the video, Pownall being fired, and charged, the settlement does not include an admission of liability from the city.
Father’s Response
Thomas Jones, David’s father, sees the settlement as an admission of wrongdoing, however. He appreciates the settlement, even if it can’t bring back his son.
“I think when the other side sees that the person was dead wrong, this is what happens,” Jones told the Philadelphia Tribune last Friday. “You can see from the video that this wasn’t right. That’s what the video shows. He was dead wrong.”
“It can’t bring back my son’s life, but it’s better than nothing. His life is priceless,” he added. “It happened and that will be something that eases the pain somewhat but not totally.”
