Suit filed over fatal shooting by deputy

CHATTANOOGA — The mother of a Tennessee man who was fatally shot by a sheriff’s deputy last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

Deborah Lilly filed suit against Hamilton County government and Deputy Jordan Long-Ross and is asking for $10 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages, news outlets reported.

Long-Ross fatally shot Tyler Hays, 29, during an early morning traffic stop in Sale Creek. At the time, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Hays fled on foot after being pulled over and then got into an altercation with the deputy that led to the shooting.

A few weeks later, Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston ruled the shooting justified and said “there is no evidence of criminal liability by the deputy.”

Lilly said autopsy results show her son was shot in the back.

“Even if Tyler and him were struggling, my question is how did my son end up being shot in the back? He was no longer a threat if he was running away.” she told WTVC-TV.

“Hamilton County has used things to try to justify the shooting, and they just don’t fly with us,” said Lilly.

WTVC said the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.