Family of man killed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg officers suing city, police

The family of Sanrico McGill, who was shot and killed by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police on December 16, 2023, has filed a lawsuit against the officers involved and the City of Charlotte. The lawsuit, initiated by Demetrics McGill on March 26, names officers Benjamin DeVries, Sean Werchek, Tymel Carson, and James Fisher as defendants. The incident occurred at an apartment complex on Catherine Simmons Avenue.

Sanrico McGill's family reported that he had a history of mental illness and had reached out to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) multiple times for assistance. Just a day prior to the shooting, Demetrics McGill had contacted the police to get involuntary committal paperwork for her son. On the day of the incident, she called the police again after hearing gunshots in the area, while waiting for officers to serve the paperwork.

According to the lawsuit, the responding officers were not acquainted with Sanrico, despite having previously interacted with him over a different involuntary commitment order earlier in the year. The officers approached the situation with guns drawn after allegedly seeing someone with a weapon inside the apartment, but the family contends that Sanrico did not possess a gun during the encounter.

The lawsuit further claims that when officers demanded everyone exit the apartment with their hands up, Demetrics and another son complied and attempted to de-escalate the situation. However, the officers allegedly escalated tensions instead. As the situation developed, Sanrico was reported to be in an "extremely agitated state," and family members indicated he was in need of help given that he was experiencing a manic episode.

Following the shooting, the Mecklenburg County District Attorney reviewed the case and announced on July 30, 2024, that no charges would be filed against the officers involved. The lawsuit alleges that the officers failed to fulfill their duty of care to Sanrico, acted grossly negligent in their use of deadly force, and caused the family significant emotional distress.