A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Phoenix police officer William Rodriguez Gallardo, who fatally shot 45-year-old Christopher Phillips as he ran away on January 17. The lawsuit, initiated by Phillips’ mother, Maria Munoz, claims that Gallardo’s actions violated constitutional rights, as Phillips posed no immediate threat when he was shot in the back. “They shouldn’t have shot my son,” Munoz stated, emphasizing the emotional impact of her son’s death on their family, which includes three young children.
The incident comes amid increasing concerns over police use of force in Phoenix, particularly following a report highlighting patterns of excessive force and discriminatory practices. Gallardo’s shooting of Phillips marks the first police fatality of 2025, raising critical questions about department policies on deadly force, especially as similar incidents continue to occur in the city. Attorney Richard Lyons, representing the family, argues that the circumstances surrounding the shooting warrant scrutiny, stressing that Phillips’ alleged possession of a gun does not justify lethal action when he was moving away from officers.
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