Clarence Belton, an African American police officer assigned to an FBI task force, was shot more than ten times during a 2019 drug raid after a fellow officer, who is white, mistook him for a suspect. Belton survived the shooting, but the incident set off a long legal fight that is now approaching a key decision.
Belton was the only Black officer on the FBI Safe Streets Task Force during the early morning raid in Gastonia, North Carolina. He worked for the Gastonia Police Department and joined local and federal officers to serve a search warrant connected to a meth trafficking investigation, according to Atlanta Black Star.
As officers arrived, the suspect, Larry McConneyhead, briefly stepped outside before running back into the house. Four Gastonia officers then moved into the open garage after forcing entry.
Inside the garage, officers encountered a woman pointing a gun. Belton fired toward her while shouting warnings and began retreating. During the chaos, another task force officer accidentally shot Belton in the arm. Belton dropped his weapon, fell to the ground, and tried to crawl out of the garage to safety.
At that point, Charlotte-Mecklenburg officer Heather Loveridge opened fire, shooting Belton more than ten times in a matter of seconds. Loveridge later said she believed Belton was the suspect. The gunfire stopped only after someone yelled, “He’s a cop.”
Belton suffered serious injuries to both arms and underwent multiple surgeries. Court records say the injuries are permanent and forced him to leave law enforcement. He now works as a real estate agent.
The Charlotte District Attorney declined to file criminal charges, though Loveridge was fired from the police department in 2020. In 2022, Belton filed a civil lawsuit accusing Loveridge and the department of violating his constitutional rights, along with claims of negligence and assault.
Loveridge has argued the case should be dismissed under qualified immunity. While a lower court initially rejected that argument, an appellate court ordered a more detailed review and directed the release of video footage from the incident. The video was made public in October and renewed attention on the case.
More than six years after the shooting, the lawsuit remains unresolved as the court decides whether Loveridge is protected by qualified immunity. A ruling could come at any time.
SOURCE: blacknews.com