‘I feel empowered’: Mother of 18-year-old killed by troopers sues state police for over $60 Million

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – A 12 months after the capturing dying of her 18-year-old son by State troopers LaToya Benton is taking authorized issues into her personal arms.

“I’m not going to surrender! don’t even know what I’m doing per se I simply now I’m preventing for my son,” Benton mentioned.

The heartbroken, but defiant mom of Xzavier Hill introduced Thursday that she has filed a federal lawsuit towards Virginia State Police for greater than $60 million {dollars}. Benton was joined by her household and supporters locally outdoors of the Federal Court docket Constructing when she made the announcement.

“We filed with out an legal professional, however we’ve got God on our aspect the lawsuit was written on my own,” Benton mentioned. “I grieve day-after-day due to the violence my son suffered by the hands of police.”

On Jan. 9, 202,1 Benton’s 18-year-old son Xzavier Hill led troopers on a chase that topped speeds of 120 miles an hour. Hill crashed alongside I-64 in Goochland.

State Police say Hill displayed a gun and refused orders to cease reaching for it earlier than he was shot.

Final 12 months the 2 troopers who had been concerned in Hill’s capturing dying had been cleared of any wrongdoing by a grand jury, however Benton believes the officers had been by no means held accountable for his or her actions.

“We’re not going to lie down and let folks say to us he had a gun within the automotive. We stay in an open-carry state right here in Virginia,” Benton mentioned. “My son was denied due course of on this case. He was denied his life.”

Hill’s mom is suing state police for 60-Million {Dollars} along with in search of damages towards two state troopers totaling $350,000. Benton can be demanding a trial by jury.

Benton says she filed the swimsuit herself as a result of her legal professional refused to symbolize her wrongful dying swimsuit and as a consequence of mounting authorized charges from earlier litigation in her son’s dying.

Along with justice for her son Benton says she’s doing this to encourage different households in an identical scenario to do the identical towards regulation enforcement.

“I’m right here to proceed my calling to get justice on my son and for all the opposite accounts of black women and men who had been denied their constitutional proper of safety primarily based solely on the very fact of worry that’s triggered in white male officers,” Benton mentioned. “I wanna present folks you may combat this combat. I don’t wanna settle simply to make it go away.”

NBC12 reached out to Virginia State Police for a press release, however the police company says they don’t touch upon pending litigation.

“I‘m shifting ahead like a prepare with no breaks! I’m going!” Benton mentioned. “I really feel empowered!”

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