Lawsuit filed by mother of teen killed near CHOP dismissed by judge

A federal judge has tossed a civil rights lawsuit filed against the City of Seattle by the mother of a teen killed near the CHOP zone in 2020.

Family files federal lawsuit against Seattle over son killed in CHOP last summer

Donnitta Sinclair, the mother of Horace Lorenzo Anderson, claimed the city’s decision to abandon the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct invited “lawlessness and … a foreseeable danger” that led to the death of her 19-year-old son. She also pointed to the failure of emergency crews to enter the scene after her son was shot because SPD had not arrived to secure the scene, a frustration felt by bystanders that night.

“You could be saving his life right now,” a man near the scene was heard saying.

Anderson was shot multiple times in the early hours of June 20, 2020. Witnesses say Seattle Fire and Seattle Police stood by and declined to assist the teen as he bled to death. By the time SPD arrived about 20 minutes later, civilians had already rushed Anderson to Harborview, where he later died.

“There’s no consequences behind what happened at the CHOP,” Sinclair told KIRO 7 TV.

But the judge dismissed the suit yesterday, saying Sinclair failed to prove that the city knew something was going to happen at CHOP but chose to ignore the risk and expose Anderson to it anyway.

Sinclair’s attorney told the Seattle Times they’ll appeal.

Family of teen killed in CHOP sues Seattle, King County, Washington state

There are also two other claims pending, filed by Anderson’s father and on behalf of the teen’s estate against the state, King County, and the City of Seattle, as well as an additional lawsuit regarding the CHOP filed on behalf of business owners.

KIRO Radio reporter Hanna Scott contributed to this report.