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City Council votes against Nathaniel Sanders settlement

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A $750,000 settlement in a deadly police shooting is struck down by the city Thursday.

The family of Nathaniel Sanders sued the city after the 18-year-old was shot and killed by Austin police officer Leonardo Quintana in May of last year – but it was a no-go on the settlement, after council members voted against it 4-3.

The settlement was heavily debated, amid questions of whether or not the offficer had responded on the scene appropriately.

Supporters say a settlement was the least the city could do.

“We can’t move forward if the past is always in front of us,” says Reverend Freddie Dixon, who supported the settlement. Some council members argued a trial won’t provide the transparency APD hopes for. Other members proposed a lesser settlement of $500,000.

Member Chris Riley says he thinks that amount is a more neutral amount that should appease both APD and the Sanders family.  However, that motion failed on a vote of 5 to 2.

Members opposed argue any settlement would just be an admission of wrongdoing.

“You've got to have very good reason to take taxpayer money from one citizen and give it to another,” says Mayor Lee Leffingwell, who voted against.

“We’re obviously pleased,” says Austin Police Association President Wayne Vincent. “We were on the position that this process needs to play out. I think the community in the long run wins, and it can be resolved by letting that process play out.”

The case will now go to trial.  However, that fact now puts the issue around race.

“This is Austin, Texas in 2010.  What it says is when it comes to a black person in the city, they don’t care about our lives,” says Nelson Linder with NAACP. “This was a wonderful chance to put some sort of closure on this issue.  They want a battle, they picked on tonight.  We’re going forward. You want a war, you picked one."

“Many African Americans feel that it is business as usual, and it indicated that today in the city council,” says Dixon.”

KEYE TV tried speaking with the Sanders Family contact, Adam Loewy; however, he had not returned our phone calls as of Thursday night.

A trial date has not yet been set.

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