Attorney Bradley Gage brought the claim — often the precursor to a lawsuit — on Monday on behalf of Shellondra Thomas and her 7-year-old daughter. Both were in an SUV with Terron Jammal Boone when he was shot to death by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies in the Kern County town of Rosamond about 4:30 p.m. on June 17.
Thomas was hit in the chest with by a bullet fragment and her daughter was uninjured, but will suffer a lifetime of nightmares and terror, according to the claim.
The body of Boone’s half-brother, Robert Fuller, was found with a rope around his neck about 3:40 a.m. on June 10 in Poncitlan Square, across from Palmdale City Hall. Authorities initially said the death appeared to be a suicide, although an official cause of death has not been made.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into Fuller’s death — with cooperation from state and federal agencies.
Thomas’ claim states that she was driving her daughter and Boone to a store to buy flour for use in their dinner when they noticed they were being followed.
The unmarked vehicle trailed them as they drove a circuitious route “in fear for their lives, worried that the SUV’s occupants were affiliated with the men who were lynching Black men around the country …,” according to the claim.
Boone “was terrified that the fate that befell his brother and other Black men in the Antelope Valley would take his life, as well,” the claim states.
Thomas ended up driving into the parking lot of the apartment complex where the three lived.
“Gunfire erupted,” the claim states. “Another Black man lay dead in a pool of blood.”
The LASD previously said the deputies were looking for a kidnap, domestic assault and assault with a deadly weapon suspect and that Boone was positively identified as matching the suspect’s description.
“Detectives followed the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop,” according to a sheriff’s statement. “The suspect opened the front passenger door of the vehicle and engaged the deputies by firing multiple rounds at them with a handgun.”
Deputies returned fire and Boone, 31, was struck several times in the upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the sheriff’s statement.
Court records obtained by the Los Angeles Times show that Boone was charged the day before his death with multiple criminal counts, including criminal threats, assault, false imprisonment and domestic violence.
Surveillance video posted by the Rosamond Community Watchdog, a local news platform, showed multiple vehicles trailing a dark SUV into a housing complex parking lot. Voices repeatedly shouted, “Hands up!” before gunfire erupted.
None of the detectives nor their vehicles were equipped with cameras, but a sheriff’s official has said investigators are trying to recover footage from doorbell cameras and other home video systems in the area.
LACSD deputy fatally shoots Robert Fuller’s half-brother in Kern County
Family hires attorney, seeks independent autopsy in Robert Fuller’s death
Watch: Villanueva vows thorough probe into hanging death in Palmdale
Robert Fuller death: Hundreds protest in Palmdale; city & county officials request probe by State AG
Watch: Demand grows for full investigation into death of Robert Fuller in Palmdale
Suspected suicide: Body found hanging from tree in Poncitlan Square, Palmdale issues statement
surfside 6 says
Even though they are actually very rare, a “crossfire” death is liberalism’s screaming nightmare! The odd occurrence of crossfire death has assisted paranoid US liberals in disarming 50 US cities! The problem primarily is that crossfire death occurs from the worst of all liberal perspectives! Whether it’s a trapped US infantry platoon or some slob washing the car, crossfire death occurs anytime somebody actually fights back. See the liberal brain has become comfortable with the helpless sitting target. So even it’s a strangler in the bedroom, let it known that liberals take no excuses for crossfire death!
AV Resident says
First of all, very happy that not one law enforcement officer was not wounded nor their life taken.
Secondly, put me on that case. That woman won’t get a dime from the taxpayer.
Ron says
Like I keep saying over and over until THESE PEOPLE learn how to behave they will keep getting shot. How come Asians dont seem to have a problem with the police? Maybe because they know how to behave.
Stop Racist in the AV says
Typical ignorant racist comment
surfside 6 says
Keep living through imagination liberal. But the world is full of people of that description.
Stinger says
Ummm… Ron? You have a lot of studying to do on this subject.
Question Lancaster Authority says
What about Michael Thomas who was shot in Lancaster? What is going on with that case?
Michael says
Why is she suing? Her friend Boone started shouted at officers and he was taken out by the Deputies. Thats there job. He was a criminal and shot at Deputies. Am I missing something here?
Bonnie says
Boone started firing first is what i heard, dont fall for this [removed], she is out for money
What says
They were worried the same fate that befell other men in the av was gonna be his too? What you mean the “lynchings”? People want to act like that stuff happens all the time in the av when really robert fuller was just a sexual predator looking for an easy way out before he got punished. Imagine if he had just stopped and complied he probably wouldn’t be human swiss cheese right now and maybe this “woman” will learn to choose better men
Citizens' Rights Watch says
Stop Racist in AV:
Your ignorant, hackneyed cries of “racist, racist, racist” sounds like the braying of a wounded jackass. Everyone is racist to you.
Your problems are caused due to people acting like un-evolved uncivilized savages and it won’t get better till you admit it instead of blaming your failures on innocent people and demanding “reparations”.
I'm Not Buying This Story says
Quoting the article which is quoting the claim:
“The unmarked vehicle trailed them as they drove a circuitious route “in fear for their lives, worried that the SUV’s occupants were affiliated with the men who were lynching Black men around the country …,” according to the claim.” End quote….
So at the time this happened, mere days after the hanging, and although investigation that they themselves demanded had just barely started, they were absolutely certain that there is a group of men who were not only lynching black men, but were lynching black men around the country.
And if that isn’t enough, then the part about how “Gunfire erupted”, presumably, on its own and without any influence from the same man who ended up losing his life.
The man’s blood isn’t even cold yet, and this chick is already spending her settlement money!
All this does is it simply undermines the validity of their claims that they are oppressed people who are suffering from a racist society that is out to get them.
Ron says
They try to make is sound like they were so innocent. PLEASE!!!! The guy was a THUG!! Stop the Crap!! They were not on their way to church.
AV Resident says
They were on their way to the store to buy flour for their dinner.
The Cooking Network is their favorite TV venue.
Steve says
Amazing, no cameras again. Why are the lasd not required to wear cameras, when they are known as one of the most dishonest police forces in America. Two names come to mind and you’ll know I’m right, Baca and Tanaka. The head of the snake is corrupt, but the body as a whole isn’t. Yea right. One reason why they don’t wear cameras, because they will lose millions yearly and they aren’t in the business of losing. Lasd as dishonest as can be. Where are the cameras that doj was supposed to furnish these dishonest criminals. The ones doing a “ good” job still cover for the dishonest ones so they aren’t left alone on a code 3 response. I know the truth.
To Clarify says
Law enforcement worked just fine for centuries without any need for cameras.
The fact that LASD does not have bodycams did not make Boone beat up on and abuse his GF, he did that on his own. The fact that LASD does not have bodycams did not come out of that SUV guns blazziing… He did that on his own!
You should also understand that the majority of people out there are opposed to having cameras at each and every corner in their world. They consider it an invasion of their privacy. Which, if you don’t know, is protected under this country’s constitution. So when you blurt out “Amazing, no cameras again”… No, its not that amazing. That is the norm, not the exception.
If you want cameras everywhere, by all means, get a ladder, a set of tools, and a bunch of cameras, and have at it.
Just so you know, if anyone has ever distrusted the LASD, it is me…. And believe me,.I have gotten screwed by those same detectives who ran this operation. But I will also be the first to offer that if they are shot at, they have every right to not only shoot back, but shoot to kill. You would want that same right if you wore their shoes!
Lastly, this shooting could have been avoided had the one person who lost the most, not opted to be defiant and combative. Had he cooperated, he would be locked up but he would still be alive.
LAPD Captain says
Lies, lies, lies. LASD are all disgusting perverts. They rape and kill innocent people.
Sure steve says
You know the truth huh? You might not know when Sheriff Alex Villanueva tried to get cameras for EVERY police , he got push back and red taped. They are not all bad, stop talking out of your a**!These people were all criminals. She was in the car with him and can be charged as well.
Stop the LASD says
They are all lying, racist who could care less about the people of the AV.
Claim says
“The suspect opened the front passenger door of the vehicle and engaged the deputies by firing multiple rounds…”
Boone was Glocked out.