Family of man killed by Vineland Police files lawsuit against the city

The family of Richard Bard Jr, who was shot and killed by Vineland Police Department officers last year, filed a lawsuit in federal court Thursday, questioning what led to the fatal shooting reports NJ.com.

Richard Bard Jr lawsuit

Bard Jr., 31, of Bridgeton, was fatally shot on April 17 in the early morning by Vineland police officers. His mother, Dana German-Bunton, filed the lawsuit as the controller of Bard’s estate against Vineland, police Chief Rudy Beu and unidentified Vineland officers.

The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding $1 million dollars.

Police’s account

Authorities say Bard Jr. and John Bain, 31, of Vineland, allegedly robbed a man April 17 in the area of Cherry and 7th streets in Vineland. After pistol-whipping the man, the two robbers fled and ran into police on East Avenue and Almond Street.

Once they ran into police, Bard shot at police and an officer returned fire; fatally wounding Bard in the groin and hip, police said. Authorities transported Bard to Inspira Medical Center Vineland, where he would die from his injuries. Police reportedly found a handgun near Bard when he was shot.

Richard Bard Jr lawsuit details

According to the lawsuit, Bard was injured in a car accident in 2013 and would have had difficulty running in the way that police allege.

“We believe the litigation is necessary to get to the truth of what happened to Mr. Bard during his encounter with police on April 17, 2016,” said Conrad Benedetto, the attorney representing his family, in a press release. “According to what the family of Richard Bard has explained, Richard could not have done what police have described his actions to have been.”

According to Bard’s family, he spent the night before his death at a birthday party with his girlfriend in Walnut Villa Complex on Florence Avenue in Vineland. Around 11:30 p.m., Bard and Bain left the party to get cigarettes from someone else within the apartment complex. The family says the next thing they heard was that Bard was fatally shot and also had two broken wrists; with no explanation of how the wrists were broken.

The lawsuit alleges that Vineland police violated Bard’s constitutional rights and failed to train or supervise its officers well enough to avoid improper use of force. The lawsuit asks for a trial by jury.