Shooting Victims’ Relatives to Get $3M Settlement From Cleveland

The family attorney for one of two people killed in a hail of police gunfire in 2012 says the victims’ relatives will split a $3 million settlement from the city of Cleveland.

Thirteen Cleveland, Ohio, police officers fired 137 shots into a car after a high-speed chase, killing 43-year-old driver Timothy Russell and 30-year-old passenger Malissa Williams in the parking lot of a suburban middle school.

A Cuyahoga County probate judge hasn’t yet approved the settlement. The lawsuit was originally filed in federal court. Russell family attorney Terry Gilbert says the settlement helps avoid long and expensive litigation. Williams’ family attorney, David Malik, declined to comment Tuesday.

City spokesman Dan Williams didn’t comment on specifics of the agreement Tuesday, but said “the settlement speaks for itself.”