Suspect,
and NYC cop who shot her, had legal woes
NEW YORK — A New York City police detective who killed an
unarmed carjacking suspect has been sued at least six times since 2003 over
alleged brutality. The New York Times report that the city has already paid out
$224,000 to settle lawsuits against detective Phil Atkins. The detective's gun
discharged Thursday as he struggled with 23-year-old Shantel Davis, who had
smashed a stolen car into a minivan. It isn't clear whether he intended to
fire. The president of the police detectives' union says lawsuits against
officers are common, and he is confident Atkins acted properly. Davis also had
a history. She was awaiting trial on charges that she was part of a gang that
shot a man five times during a break-in a year ago.