NEW ORLEANS, La. (WGNO) — A family is suing the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office after their son was fatally shot by a deputy at a Metairie apartment complex last year.
The family of 18-year-old Calvin Cains III is also calling on the department to release the body camera footage.
The family, nor the public, has seen the body camera footage, and according to the family’s attorney, Bobby DiCello, it wouldn’t prove Cain’s death was justifiable.
“To Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, I have questions, and I deserve answers,” said Mallory Woodfork, the mother of Calvin Cains III.
The teenager was fatally shot by Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputies on June 6, 2023, just days before his 19th birthday.
Almost a year later, Cains’ family and their attorney gathered at Café Istanbul in New Orleans’ St. Roch neighborhood Monday to announce their civil lawsuit against the sheriff’s office.
Cains was wanted in connection with a road rage shooting in New Orleans, according to Sheriff Joe Lopinto.
Deputies tracked him down to an apartment complex on West Esplanade Avenue in Metairie where the sheriff had said he tried to evade authorities by driving away.
“I have repeatedly requested the body cam footage of that day, but my pleas have gone unanswered,” said Woodfork.
Cains’ family is calling for an investigation into their son’s death, which they say is a result of excessive and unreasonable force.
“For them to kill him with no justification, I’m really hurt,” said Calvin Cains Jr., the teen’s father. “June 6, the last day, my life was over. My only child. I miss my son calling me ‘Dad.’”
DiCello says the lack of accountability on behalf of the sheriff’s office points to a systemic problem.
“We would love an independent [Department of Justice] investigation into Jefferson Parish as to a pattern in practice of misconduct and policies and procedures that are not being followed routinely and have not been followed routinely,” said DiCello. “We would ask for that as well.”
WGNO reached out to both the sheriff’s office and Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office. A spokesman for the sheriff says they don’t comment on pending litigation. A spokesman for the district attorney says their office is conducting its review of the case; therefore, they cannot comment.
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