The family of Rashaud Johnson, a 32-year-old unarmed Black man shot and killed by police in May, announced a wrongful death lawsuit on Monday against the City of Aurora and Officer Brandon Mills, the officer who fired the fatal shots.

At a press conference held on August 5, attorneys representing Johnson’s family said the incident, which occurred on May 12, at The Parking Spot (at 56th Ave. and Ireland St. was entirely preventable. They alleged the Aurora Police Department failed to respond appropriately to a mental health crisis and used unnecessary deadly force.

Neil Sandhu, an attorney with Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, called the department’s version of events misleading and said the lawsuit aims to both honor Johnson’s memory and hold officials accountable.

“Rashaud wasn’t a criminal, he wasn’t a thug. He was a beloved son, a comedian, and a community member,” Sandhu said. “The police department wants to paint a picture of a man who was a threat, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This lawsuit is about protecting Rashaud’s reputation and honoring his memory.”

“I want to be clear—despite what people are saying, including those internet trolls—Rashaud was not a career criminal,” he added. “The only marks on his criminal record were a small marijuana possession charge and a vehicular ticket, both of which occurred a decade ago.”

According to the toxicology report, Rashaud had a small amount of marijuana in his system at the time of his death—a detail his family and attorneys say does not justify the use of deadly force.

Timeline of Events

According to the lawsuit, the incident began when Johnson was seen wandering barefoot in a parking lot, prompting 49 separate 911 calls from concerned employees. Attorneys say the calls were repeatedly placed at the back of the dispatcher queue, and no mental health professionals were dispatched to the scene.

When Officer Mills arrived, Johnson appeared disoriented and was pacing near an anti-scaling fence, seemingly unable to find a way out. Mills began shouting commands, which Johnson did not respond to, according to the complaint.

The situation escalated when Johnson briefly wrapped his arms around Mills, and both men fell to the ground. Mills called for help, pushed Johnson off, and created distance between them. Moments later, he drew his weapon and fired two shots at Johnson from dozens of feet away.

The lawsuit alleges Mills failed to provide immediate medical aid, waiting five to six minutes before offering what attorneys described as “minimal assistance.”

Family Speaks Out

Johnson’s parents, Taushica Carter and Christopher Johnson, stood alongside their attorneys as they spoke publicly about their son’s death.

“For 32 years, I had the pleasure of loving him, being loved back,” said Carter. “As a veteran, as a public servant — I serve and take care of people — I have a hard time knowing that this person took an oath and took my baby’s life. Someone who thought they were God basically took my baby’s life.”

Christopher Johnson described his son’s gentle nature and passion for making people laugh as a stand-up comedian.

“To watch him show the bravery to be a comedian and help people enjoy life by laughing, to watch him navigate the world — that was something for me as a father,” he said. “When I want to text my son jokes that we shared... that’s no longer there for me.”

He also explained that his son’s communication style may have been misunderstood by police.

“Rashaud would answer at his own pace, so what others would see as unresponsive, we would see as normal,” he said. “He was taught to respect elders and to respect life — taught to respect the opportunities that he had.”

Sandhu argued that Johnson posed no threat and was not given a chance to survive.

“Why is Rashaud dead? Because Officer Mills decided to shoot an unarmed Black man even though he posed no imminent threat of serious bodily harm,” Sandhu said. “And then he decided to let him bleed out in the dirt without even attempting to provide aid.”

“My only child is gone,” said Carter, her voice trembling. “He’s no longer here. He should still be alive with us.”

“It’s a pain some people know,” added Johnson. “But I don’t want anyone to join that club.”

Broader Context

Johnson’s death comes amid a troubling history of fatal police encounters involving unarmed Black men in Aurora — a city and police department repeatedly accused of excessive force and racial bias.

In 2019, 23-year-old Elijah McClain died after Aurora officers tackled him, placed him in a carotid hold, and allowed paramedics to inject him with ketamine. McClain, who was walking home from a convenience store, had committed no crime.

More recently, in November 2023, 37-year-old Kylin Lewis was shot and killed by Aurora police while reportedly unarmed and fleeing during a traffic stop. Body camera footage raised questions about the officers’ justification for using deadly force. His family continues to demand an independent investigation.

These cases, along with the deaths of others like Naeschylus Carter-Vinzant, killed during a SWAT raid in 2015, have drawn national attention and fueled calls for comprehensive reform of the Aurora Police Department.

Aurora has since entered into a consent decree with the Colorado Attorney General’s office, following a 2021 investigation that found the department had a pattern of racially biased policing and unlawful use of force. Yet critics say little has changed.

As the Johnson family’s lawsuit moves forward, it adds another voice to the growing demand for structural change — not only in how law enforcement responds to people in crisis, but in how it sees and treats Black lives.