Hambric v. Twilley et al

On September 30, 2025, in Los Angeles, California, Anthony Hambric, an unarmed 35-year-old African American man, was pulled over for a broken taillight. Body camera footage showed Officer David Twilley ordering him to exit the vehicle. As Hambric complied with his hands visible, Twilley discharged his weapon, shooting Hambric seven times in the back; he died at the scene. The shooting immediately sparked protests. Hambric’s family filed Hambric v. Twilley et al. in federal court, suing Twilley and the City of Los Angeles under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for excessive force, racial discrimination, and deprivation of civil rights. The plaintiffs presented evidence that Twilley had prior misconduct complaints ignored by the department. The city moved to dismiss based on qualified immunity. The case drew national scrutiny and became emblematic of systemic issues in policing.

In January 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Twilley on second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter charges. The civil case was settled in April 2026 for $18 million—the largest police misconduct settlement in Los Angeles history. Criminal proceedings against Twilley are ongoing.

Whether Officer Twilley’s use of deadly force was excessive and motivated by racial bias; whether qualified immunity shields him from liability; whether the City of Los Angeles maintained a custom of condoning police violence under Monell claims.

The shooting ignited mass protests and a national reckoning on police brutality. It prompted a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the LAPD’s use-of-force practices and led California to pass legislation narrowing qualified immunity for law enforcement. The case intensified calls for federal police reform.