The city of Cleveland has agreed to pay $4.8 million to the family of a 13-year-old girl, Tamia Chappman, who was tragically killed in December 2019 during a police pursuit involving a stolen car driven by a teenage carjacker. The settlement comes nearly four years after the family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against 22 officers of the Cleveland Police Department, claiming their involvement in an “egregiously reckless and unnecessary pursuit.”
Stanley Jackson, the lawyer representing the Chappman family, announced the settlement at a news conference on Monday, stating that it is believed to be the largest payout in Ohio related to a police pursuit case. He emphasized that the settlement amount reflects the value of Tamia’s life and hopes it will lead to changes in how law enforcement agencies conduct pursuits in the future.
Sarah Johnson, a spokeswoman for the city, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to settle the case, noting that the pursuit had stemmed from a violent armed carjacking. She highlighted the conflicting nature of the situation, where police officers were trying to apprehend dangerous individuals while a young girl lost her life as a result.
Tamia’s mother, Sherrie Chappman, expressed that the settlement does not bring her any closure, as nothing can replace the loss of her daughter. The tragic events leading to Tamia’s death began with the carjacking by D’Shaun McNear, who was 15 at the time, and escalated into a high-speed chase through Cleveland streets.
The lawsuit filed by the Chappman family alleged that the officers involved in the pursuit failed to adhere to the Police Department’s policy by continuing the chase at excessive speeds. The pursuit ultimately ended in tragedy when Mr. McNear struck Tamia, resulting in her death and severe injuries to an 11-year-old.
Despite the settlement, Mr. Jackson criticized the lack of disciplinary action taken against the officers involved in the pursuit. The Cleveland Police Department did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. Sarah Johnson reiterated that there are no winners in such a tragic case and emphasized the importance of preventing such incidents by addressing the root causes of criminal behavior.
D’Shaun McNear was sentenced to at least 26 years in prison in 2021 for his role in the carjackings and the fatal crash. He is currently serving his sentence at the Lebanon Correctional Institution in southwestern Ohio. The resolution of the civil case brings some measure of financial compensation to the Chappman family but cannot erase the pain of their loss.
