Singleton v. Casanova, No. 22-50327, 2024 WL 2891900 (5th Cir. June 10, 2024)

Successfully defeated officer’s appeal of summary judgment motion on qualified immunity defense, where a San Antonio Police Officer—attempting to conduct a “knock and talk investigation”—began shooting within seconds of opening front door of a home. The officer’s shots barely missed Taylor Singleton, hit Davante Snowden, and killed Charles Roundtree who were at the home. The Fifth Circuit determined that because there were fact issues as to whether the use of deadly force was reasonable, and that because the facts, taken in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, made this an obvious case in which clearly established law prohibited the use of deadly force, the officer was not entitled to summary judgment on his qualified immunity defense.

Shelby J. White, Of Counsel Thad D. Spalding, Partner