Family of man killed by off-duty FBI agent in Metro Center files $15M lawsuit

Three years after his death during an altercation with an off-duty FBI agent inside Metro Center station, Troy Bullock’s family continues to seek justice — now in a $15 million lawsuit.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia previously said there was insufficient evidence to pursue federal civil rights charges or D.C. criminal charges against the FBI agent.

The lawsuit’s court documents obtained by News4 describe the incident as a “violation of civil rights, use of excessive force, an assault and battery, and an unreasonable search and seizure of Troy Bullock that resulted in his death at the hands of a federal law enforcement agent.”

It also goes into details about the incident, stating that it was the unidentified agent who initially approached Bullock regarding his conduct while he was waiting for an oncoming train.

After the incident, prosecutors said that the agent, whose identity was not released, said he saw Bullock start a fight with someone else.

The United State Attorney’s Office later said when the agent stepped in and told Bullock he should leave the person alone, Bullock became aggressive and pushed the agent, which allegedly caused the two to fall.

However, the lawsuit says, “Without provocation or legal justification, FBI Agent John Doe initiated a physical altercation by pushing or shoving Mr. Bullock.”

Surveillance video obtained by News4 at the time shows the struggle between the two men as they fell over a barrier about 8 feet to the ground below. Seconds later, shots were fired, and people started running.

As the struggle continued, the off-duty agent drew his service weapon and shot Bullock, who died at the station, authorities said.

Police later said Bullock had a gun on him during the incident.

The lawsuit calls his death the “[…] direct and proximate result of the actions of FBI Agent John Doe,” and that his actions were quote “objectively unreasonable, unwarranted, and undertaken with a reckless disregard for Mr. Bullock’s life and constitutional rights.”

The paperwork also claims that the agent failed to de-escalate the situation or utilize less-lethal alternatives, contrary to established law enforcement protocols.

This lawsuit seeks 15 million dollars for losses suffered by Bullock and his family and punitive damages against the agent, in an amount to be determined at trial.

News4 reached out to the FBI, and it said its standard practice is to decline comment on any pending litigation.

News4 also reached out to both Bullock’s family members, who have publicly spoken before, and the attorney that filed the lawsuit, but have not received a response.