GREENSBORO, N.C. — An appeals court reversed a judge's decision to dismiss a lawsuit regarding a teen killed by a Greensboro police officer two years ago.
In August of 2022, a Greensboro police officer shot and killed 17-year-old Nasanto Crenshaw as he was fleeing a traffic stop.
When the case initially went to court, a judge dismissed it, saying the force used by the officer was considered justified.
An appeals court overturned that dismissal on Monday, ruling that the plaintiff's allegations of excessive force were sufficient to state a claim. The case will now head back to district court.
This is a civil suit, so there aren't any criminal charges in this case. The District Attorney already decided the officer would not face criminal charges.
The City of Greensboro released bodycam footage of the deadly officer-involved shooting back in April 2023 - about a year after the shooting happened.
The bodycam footage showed Crenshaw tried to take off from a traffic stop. In a matter of a couple seconds, Officer Matthew Sletten fired three rounds, hitting and killing Crenshaw.
Crenshaw's family attorneys said the teen was trying to get away and wasn't trying to use the car as a weapon.
The appeals court agreed, writing that "a reasonable officer in Officer Sletten's position would not think that the stolen car, which was moving away from the officer, posed a significant and immediate threat of death of serious physical injury to the officer that would justify his conduct of firing one shot through the car's windshield and additional shots through the car's passenger window."
Harry Daniels, one of the attorneys representing Nasanto Crenshaw's family, said reverses are rare, but this gives the teen's family a renewed sense of hope for justice.
"It is very rare that you get reversals, and this was a reversal that set up a published opinion. For layman's, published opinion meaning, that it's now the law of the Fourth Circuit, other litigants and other people will pull from this case and their cases to come," Daniels explained. "A police officer cannot be judge, jury and executioner so that's not how it works. You know, a stolen vehicle does not equate to the death penalty or swiping a vehicle does not equate to the death penalty either. So, I mean, we're not painting out Nasanto to be a choir boy by any means but what he did was not warranted of his life being taken."
Daniels said in cases similar to Crenshaw's, his case will serve as a reminder to judges to thoroughly go through evidence such as dashcam or bodycam video.
Daniels said he believes the judge who initially dismissed the case is very thoughtful, but in this case, she got it wrong. That's why his team filed the appeal.
He hopes it paves a way for more accountability for law enforcement officers.
"It was very sad a 17-year-old boy lost his life prematurely, but the laws have to change. Things like accountability have to move forward and hopefully, this case can keep us on the track of some accountability for those who shoot and kill unlawfully," Daniels said. "It's a step in the right direction for them, step in the right direction. There's still a lot more to go, I mean just because there's a reversal doesn't mean there's a win but you know, in seeking justice and finding justice has been revived."
WFMY News 2 reached out to Greensboro Police for comment. GPD directed us to speak with the city attorney's office. When we spoke to the city attorney Chuck Watts, he said the city had no comment.
Another attorney representing the Crenshaw family, Chimeaka White said in a statement, "today marks an important milestone in the pursuit of justice for Nasanto Crenshaw’s family. While nothing can undo the heinous actions Officer Sletten we hope the scales of justice will continue to hold the officer accountable. Nasanto did not deserve to die in this manner. As I have always stated, Nasanto was not trying to use the car as a weapon to hit Officer Sletten. We are grateful that the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals got this one right."