SAN ANTONIO -- In response to the latest filing by the University of the Incarnate Word in the lawsuit against one of its police officers, the family of Cameron Redus released a statement to KENS5.
Cameron Redus, 23, was shot five times at close range by UIW Corporal Christopher Carter, following a traffic stop a few blocks north of campus December 6. Redus died at the scene.The family spokesman says the university, in its response, is denying the medical examiner's report of powder burns on Redus' body and fails to mention the shot that came from behind and struck Redus.
For more information on the shooting incident click here.
The original lawsuit was filed by the Redus family on May 6, with the purpose of recovering damages for the mental anguish suffered prior to Redus' death and recovering funeral and burial expenses for their son. The family also claims negligence by the university and Cpl. Carter.
Read the Redus family lawsuit here. Factors surrounding the incident have been debated by both sides.Tuesday, UIW made several claims about the details leading up to the fatal shooting that had not been previously released.According to UIW's response, Cpl. Carter did not call his attorney when Alamo Heights Police arrived at the scene -- this statement contradicts information provided to media by Alamo Heights Police following the shooting.Read the UIW response in full here.
The Redus family claims the university chose to withhold certain details in its response because the evidence directly disputes Carter's version of events.
UIW has not responded to the Redus family statement.
The following is the Redus family response in its entirety:
The Redus family is incredulous of the response filed by the University of the Incarnate Word to its wrongful death suit in the shooting of their son Cameron Redus. While we expected a denial of our allegations of improper actions on the part of its security officer Chris Carter, we were disturbed that UIW also denied the Alamo Heights Police report describing how Cameron's body was found. Even more alarming is their denial of the medical examiners report which showed the presence of gun burns indicating a virtual point blank range of the two lethal shots. Also no mention of Cameron being shot from two different directions. They have chosen Mr. Carter's account even when it is incompatible with the physical evidence.
Perhaps most disturbing is UIW's blame the victim response. Lets not forget that Chris Carter followed Cameron to his apartment in a different city than UIW jurisdiction and within feet of his front door shot 5 bullets into Cameron, at least two at point blank range while he was unarmed and a danger to no one. Carter claims he shot in self defense.
The circumstances of Cameron's death should at the very least demonstrate the need for changes on the part of the university so that this tragedy can never happen again. UIW's irresponsibly denying those needed changes should strike fear in the hearts of UIW students and the surrounding citizens, fear for their own safety.
