Barksdale v. Kilgore et al

On December 5, 2025, Marcus Barksdale, a 32-year-old African American man, was fatally shot by Officer James Kilgore during a traffic stop in Montgomery, Alabama. Police alleged Barksdale was reaching for a weapon, but partial body camera footage and conflicting witness accounts immediately raised concerns. The Barksdale family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Officer Kilgore and the city, alleging excessive force, wrongful death, and violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. The complaint also asserts municipal liability for failure to train and supervise officers. The incident quickly attracted national media coverage and became a flashpoint in ongoing debates over police use of force and systemic racial bias.

As of mid-2026, the case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Discovery is underway, and motions for summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity have been filed by the defendants.

Whether Officer Kilgore's use of deadly force was objectively reasonable; whether the officers are entitled to qualified immunity; and whether the City of Montgomery bears municipal liability for a custom of inadequate training and supervision.

The shooting and subsequent lawsuit sparked peaceful protests across Alabama, intensified calls for federal police reform legislation, and renewed national scrutiny over the qualified immunity doctrine and the efficacy of police body camera policies.