Black Family Says Cops Aimed Guns After Mistaking Dad For White Murder Suspect

Spokane police were on the lookout for a gray-haired white male linked to a murder when they targeted Kershawn Grigsby, a Black man with an afro driving with his family in a Cadillac Escalade. In a shocking turn of events, officers rammed Grigsby’s vehicle to halt it, surrounding the family with guns drawn, and misappropriately accusing him of murder. Children screamed in panic, fearing for their lives. A lawsuit filed on October 8 recounts how officers shouted that Grigsby was wanted for murder, handcuffing him and searching the vehicle without consent. Ultimately, realizing their mistake, officers departed, leaving Grigsby with a damaged car. The actual suspect, Shannon Quattlebaum, was a white man whose license plate partially matched Grigsby's. This severe misjudgment has prompted a lawsuit alleging violations of the Fourth Amendment and excessive force against the police. Grigsby’s horrifying encounter with officers has left lasting fear in his children.