Last week, Neff Injury Law filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the family of Marando Salmon against DeKalb police officers Russell Mathis and Jordan Vance and DeKalb County following the fatal shooting of Salmon during a warrantless search of his home. The lawsuit seeks economic, compensatory, and punitive damages for the violation of Salmon’s constitutional rights.
On November 4, 2022, officers Mathis and Vance responded to a weeks-old report of an allegedly stolen vehicle. Upon finding the car in Salmon’s driveway, the officers made the critical decision to enter Salmon’s home without a warrant or consent. After searching the first floor and finding no one, the officers proceeded upstairs without announcing themselves. There, they encountered Salmon asleep in his bedroom. Salmon was startled awake by the sudden intrusion; in response, one of the officers fired six shots, striking Salmon four times and killing him.
“This tragedy goes beyond a simple mistake or misunderstanding,” Neff Injury Law founder Michael Neff told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “It represents an unacceptable choice by DeKalb County to follow its policies and procedures rather than properly limit when the police can enter a home without a warrant.”
The lawsuit alleges that both the officers and DeKalb County violated Mr. Salmon’s Fourth Amendment rights. At the time of the shooting, DeKalb County’s policy allowed officers to conduct warrantless searches when “speed is essential.” The officers relied on this overly lenient policy to justify their unconstitutional entry into Salmon’s home, directly leading to his tragic death.
Speaking with 11Alive, Neff said, “While the officers made the decision to enter unlawfully, they were operating under a policy that was far too permissive. This lawsuit demands accountability and change to protect the Fourth Amendment rights of all DeKalb residents.”
In a related criminal case earlier this year, a DeKalb County grand jury indicted both officers over the killing of Salmon. One of the officers was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct, while the other was charged with reckless conduct in connection with the warrantless entry of Mr. Salmon’s home.