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The City Council is expected to vote on the large settlement nearly four years after a police officer shot Jax Feldman in the eye amid protests and riots in 2020.
DENVER — As people protested and rioted in Denver streets in 2020, Jax Feldman said he was just walking home and not part of the protests when an officer shot him in the eye with a pepper ball, unprovoked.
Feldman lost his left eye. Now an item on the Denver City Council agenda for this coming Tuesday indicates a $2.3 million settlement has been reached with Feldman.
The settlement could be the largest individual settlement among multiple people who came forward and claimed substantial injuries like eye damage and skull fractures because of police excessive force during the George Floyd protests in Denver.
According to the lawsuit, on May 30, 2020, Feldman “was transported from the scene to Denver Health Medical Center where doctors performed emergency surgery on his left eye, determined that the eye would not regain functionality, and that it would eventually have to be removed from its socket.”
The lawsuit, filed by attorney Birk Baumgartner, said Feldman saw police shooting at protesters that night and told a group of officers, “We’re all American,” prompting one of the officers to fire the pepper ball at his face.
Feldman was 21 years old at the time and planning on pursuing a career in culinary and visual arts.
Several months after his injury, he gave an interview to 9NEWS.
““Everything’s harder,” Feldman said in the interview from 2020. “I’m vulnerable on my left side. Anybody can walk up to me and do anything they want. I’m very vulnerable.”
9NEWS has reached out to the City of Denver for comment about the settlement but has not received a response as of this publication.
The City Council is expected to vote on the payout on Tuesday.
If you have any information about this story or would like to send a news tip, you can contact jeremy@9news.com.
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