WRONGFUL DEATH

U.S. DISTRICT COURT, FORT LAUDERDALE

Hallandale Beach agreed to pay $425,000 to settle a family's claims after a man was fatally shot and his son was arrested during a SWAT team raid at their home.

On May 8, 2014, Howard Bowe Jr., 34, suffered a shotgun wound to his torso and died of organ failure 11 days later. The Bowe family claimed police officers Michael McKenzie and Paul Heiser fatally shot their dog before McKenzie shot Bowe, who was complying with McKenzie's instructions. They also claimed Howard Bowe III, then 16, was dragged out of the house, handcuffed and arrested during the raid to serve a search warrant in a drug case. The family also claimed the city and police chief allowed the department to maintain a pattern of excessive force and racism.

The city settled with no admission of wrongdoing.

Case: Estate of Bowe v. City of Hallandale Beach

Case No.: 16-cv-60993-WPD

Plaintiffs attorneys: David A. Frankel, Law Offices of David A. Frankel, Fort Lauderdale, and Stuart N. Kaplan, Kaplan & Parker, Palm Beach Gardens

Defense attorneys: Matthew H. Mandel, Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, Fort Lauderdale, and Oscar Marrero, Marrero & Wydler, Coral Gables