Sarah Mclaughlin V. City Of Spokane Et Al

Case Background

On August 22, 2024, Plaintiff Sarah McLaughlin filed a Wrongful death lawsuit due to a police shooting in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington at Spokane (Case number: 1:19cv604). Judge Judge Mary K. Dimke presided over this case.

Cause

On September 4, 2022, Sarah McLaughlin suffered the devastating loss of her fiancé, Robert Bradley, in a fatal police shooting. Officers from the Spokane Police Department (SPD) escalated what should have been a routine task of serving a protection order into a tragic and unnecessary death. Instead of approaching the situation peacefully, the officers treated the scene as though conducting a military-style raid. At approximately 10:19 PM, the officers parked their vehicles in a dark alley near Robert Bradley’s home without activating their lights or sirens. They moved stealthily toward the property, where Robert was unloading his van after a camping trip. Unaware of the officers' presence and hard of hearing, Robert posed no immediate threat. The officers suddenly issued a verbal command as he stood by his vehicle. Before Robert could process the situation or comply, they opened fire, shooting him nine times at close range. The fatal police shooting unfolded in his own driveway, with Sarah and Robert’s two young children witnessing the horrific event from inside the house.

Injuries