A Prince George’s County jury last month awarded more than $2.4 million to a Laurel resident who sued the county after he was shot by a police officer in 2006. 

Darron M. Shaw, 32, was shot by Officer David Coleman around 5 a.m. Jan. 1, 2006, in District Heights. According to court documents, police were in the area responding to calls about gunshots and people fighting, and saw Shaw and his girlfriend arguing near a car.

Suddenly, Darron Shaw said, a car pulled up, and someone ordered him to put his arms in the air. Shaw said he did so, and as he turned toward the voice, shots rang out.

Coleman fired five times, striking Shaw once in the right bicep and once in the right side of his chest. Coleman believed Shaw had a weapon and shot him in his upper body and arm, according to court reports. A gun was found in a nearby driveway, but lawyers argued over whether it belonged to Shaw.

Shaw and his wife said he never had a gun.

Shaw and his attorney said at the trial that Coleman fired without adequate warning and that Shaw’s large belt buckle was mistaken for a gun.

The eight-member jury took less than a day to come back with the verdict, which includes $2.4 million in punitive damages, $5,000 for Shaw’s lost wages as a construction worker and $31,000 for medical bills.