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LOUISIANA RECORD

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Plaintiff accuses City Police Officer and Municipality of Wrongful Death

Federal Court
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Irma Goree has filed a wrongful death complaint against Captain Gerald Givens, the City of Bastrop through its Mayor Betty Alford-Olive, and XYZ Insurance Company. The lawsuit was filed on May 14, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

The case revolves around the fatal shooting of Treston Tremaine Goree by Captain Gerald Givens of the Bastrop Police Department (BPD) on May 18, 2023. According to the complaint, Detective Givens was searching for Treston Goree in relation to a prior complaint when he found him sitting on the steps of New Second Missionary Baptist Church in Bastrop, Louisiana. Upon approaching Goree, Givens allegedly pulled his service handgun and commanded Goree to get on the ground. Although Goree complied initially, he attempted to flee when Officer Wages tried to handcuff him. Before Officer Wages could use his taser to stop Goree, Captain Givens fired his weapon multiple times, resulting in six gunshot wounds that led to Goree's death.

The plaintiff argues that Captain Givens' actions were an excessive and deadly use of force that violated Treston Goree's Fourth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution and his civil rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The lawsuit also claims that the City of Bastrop and its policymakers failed to properly train and supervise their officers, leading to a pattern of excessive force within the BPD. "Defendant City of Bastrop and its Policymakers’ failure to adequately supervise and discipline Defendant Captain Gerald Givens... caused Treston Goree’s unwarranted and excruciating physical and mental anguish and death," states the complaint.

Irma Goree is seeking compensatory damages amounting to $50 million for her son's wrongful death, along with punitive damages against each defendant as determined appropriate by the court. She also seeks exemplary damages, reasonable statutory attorney’s fees, costs of suit, pre-judgment interest at the legal rate, and post-judgment interest.

The attorneys representing Irma Goree are Anselm Nwokorie (LSBA #: 23541) and Brian Smith (LSBA #: 25875) from Smith & Nwokorie Law Offices located in Monroe, Louisiana. The case has been assigned Case No.: 3:24-cv-00637-TAD-KDM.

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