From [HERE] A federal jury decided on Thursday that a white Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer used excessive force in the 2011 death of a Black man who died after being twice shocked by the officer’s Taser.

After a day and a half of deliberations, the jury awarded the parents of La-Reko Williams $500,000. Williams died July 20, 2011, after being shocked twice by CMPD Officer Michael Forbes. The five women and three men on the panel voted not to award punitive damages.

However, the award marked the third time this year that the city or police either paid to settle a weapons case or lost in court. Another CMPD officer faces criminal and civil charges from the fatal shooting of Jonathan Ferrell a year ago. The jury’s award against Forbes will be paid by the city.

Williams’ parents, Temako McCarthy and Anthony Williams, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Forbes, asking for $3.5 million in damages. The lawsuit accused the officer of causing the death of the 21-year-old Williams three years ago when Forbes responded to a call about a fight at a light-rail station.

The complaint originally named the city, police Chief Rodney Monroe and Taser International Inc. as other targets. But they were either dropped by the plaintiffs or granted immunity by U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn before the trial.