Tsingine’s family files wrongful death lawsuit
Loreal Tsingine
Loreal Tsingine
PAGE, Ariz.
The family of a Diné woman who was fatally shot by a Winslow, Arizona police officer three months ago filed a $10.5 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city on Friday.
The claim states that Officer Austin J. Shipley violated the civil rights of 27-year-old Loreal Juana Barnell-Tsingine in the shooting and that “the city of Winslow was negligent in hiring, training, retaining, controlling and supervising” Shipley.
The claim also states that the city “uniformly ignored warning signs that Austin Shipley was a threat to the public.”
According to the claim, at least two field training officers who trained Shipley had concerns about his work, including being “quick to go for his … weapon when dealing with people,” falsifying reports, among others that the officers wrote in their daily notes during his training in 2013.
Shipley allegedly shot and killed Tsingine on Easter, March 27. Shipley responded to a shoplifting call at a Winslow convenience store where Tsingine was shot five times after allegedly brandishing a pair of scissors at Shipley that evening outside.
The claim names the city of Winslow, Shipley, and Winslow Police Chief Stephen Garnett as defendants. Tsingine’s 8-year-old daughter, Tiffany Robbins, and her husband, Michael Tsingine, are the claimants.
Shipley remains on standard, paid administrative leave since the March shooting. An investigation has been conducted but not yet made public.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow