Family awarded $6.95M in wrongful death suit against Coachella sheriff’s deputy

The family of a man who was shot and killed by a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy in Coachella in January of 2014 has been awarded nearly $7 million in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Luis Morin was shot and killed by Deputy Oscar Rodriguez on the evening of January 27, 2014. According to the complaint for damages, Morin arrived to his mother’s house in the 48-800 block of Camino Real that night and saw Deputy Rodriguez emerge from a hiding spot.

The complaint alleges that Morin was tackled by Rodriguez after running from the deputy across his mother’s front yard. The lawsuit then alleges that Rodriguez pinned Morin down on the driveway with one of his arms trapped beneath his body. That’s when the complaint alleges that Rodriguez pulled out his gun and shot Morin once in the back at close range without warning.

Rodriguez later told investigators that he had gone to the location to arrest Morin in connection with outstanding felony warrants. But it was later alleged that the deputy had been romantically involved with Morin’s former lover, Diana Perez, with whom the Coachella man had two children.

The deputy “approached from behind and kicked (Morin) in the back of the knees in an attempt to detain him, without probable cause,” the suit alleged. “At no time during the assault did defendant Rodriguez identify himself as a (law enforcement) officer.”

According to witnesses, Morin managed to wriggle free from the deputy, who chased him down after a few steps and wrestled him to the ground, at which point he drew his gun.

When Morin’s family came out to see what was happening, Rodriguez allegedly pointed his pistol at them. As the two men struggled on the ground, the deputy’s gun “discharged,” mortally wounding Morin, according to the family’s court papers.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics 20 minutes later.

Rodriguez was cleared to return to work immediately after the shooting, and was not put on paid administrative leave until September 14, 2015, according to Deputy Armando Munoz with the sheriff’s department.

John Hall with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office said the DA’s Office reviewed the case in August of 2015, and based on the information at the time of the review, a no criminal liability letter was issued to the sheriff’s department. But after receiving new information, the case was reopened and is currently under review to determine whether there might be criminal liability, said Hall.

Because the case is under review, Hall said the DA’s office won’t be commenting further at this time.

Riverside County’s spokesman Ray Smith confirmed the $6.95 million settlement with KESQ and CBS Local 2 Tuesday afternoon. Smith said Riverside County is responsible for $1 million of the settlement, which is paid from the general liability fund established annually as part of the budget.

Smith said insurance will cover the remainder of the payout.

The funds will go to Morin’s parents and four minor children, who filed the civil rights lawsuit in August 2014.