6 days ago
Family of man shot by deputy in Oildale in 2024 files lawsuit against county, KCSO
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The family of the man who was shot and killed by a Kern County deputy last March filed a lawsuit against the county and the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
The lawsuit claims Cole Jackson Hughes, the man who was shot, returned home in the 200 block of East Beardsley Avenue with his wife, Lynn Hughes, March 10 after having lunch. Lynn Hughes then called 911.
The lawsuit says Lynn Hughes walked over to her granddaughter's home in the 100 block of Hopkins Avenue, where she called 911 again to tell them a pellet gun near her husband was not loaded.
RELATED: Family speaks out after man is killed during officer-involved shooting in Oildale
After KCSO deputies arrived to confront Cole Hughes, who was sitting in his front yard, Lynn Hughes allegedly yelled out the apartment window to say her husband was holding a pellet gun that was not loaded.
According to the lawsuit, deputies handcuffed Lynn Hughes and another person who was in the front yard and placed them in their patrol vehicles.
Deputies then went into a home directly across from Hughes' home and shot at Cole Hughes, the lawsuit said.
The Critical Incident Review video provided by KCSO last year showed Lynn Hughes calling 911 the second time to tell dispatchers her husband had a weapon, but didn't show her mention the weapon being a pellet gun or being unloaded.
RELATED: Man shot, killed by deputies in Oildale had pellet rifle, wife said he had a gun
'What kind of weapon does he have?' asked the dispatcher.
'He has a gun and he has an ax,' said Hughes.
According to KCSO, deputies were responding to reports of domestic violence March 10, 2024. Deputies repeatedly told Cole Hughes to put the rifle down — which was actually a pellet hunting rifle — for about 20 minutes.
Deputy Nicholas Rocha was the only deputy who fired in the shooting, according to officials.
Cole Hughes, 53, was shot multiple times and was taken to Kern Medical. He was pronounced dead March 11, 2024.
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KCSO's Critical Incident Review Board examined the use of force April 4, 2024 and determined it was within department policy.
The lawsuit also accused KCSO of keeping Lynn Hughes in custody for about two hours without access to water or a restroom despite Hughes repeatedly asking to use the restroom, causing her to urinate on herself.
17 News has reached out to Kern County for comments.
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