Family of Unarmed South Gate Man Killed by Police Settles for $4.5 Million with Downey

By Patch Staff

The city of Downey has agreed to pay a $4.5 million settlement to the family of Michael Nida, 31, a South Gate resident and father of four who was shot and killed by Downey police on October 22, 2011, reports CBS Los Angeles.

Police officers stopped Nida with his wife Nailey while both were on their way to his birthday party. The officers at the time were allegedly looking for two suspects behind a Bank of America robbery in Imperial Avenue.

The police allege that Nida was at first cooperative, but that he later attempted to elude them several times.

Steve Gilley of the Downey Police Department, who shot Nida in the back, has said to have done so because he believed Nida was armed. The Los Angeles County district attorney concluded that Gilley was justified in his use of force, according to CBS Los Angeles.

“The (DA) said ‘justified,’ but Downey is willing to pay for something that went wrong? We’re hoping the Department of Justice looks at this and reevaluates the DA’s decision,” said Terri Teramura, Nida’s sister, to CBS Los Angeles.

For the full CBS story and video click here.