Family Files $15 Million Lawsuit Against Portland Security Guard Cleared in Fatal Shooting Outside Jewish Preschool

PORTLAND, Ore. — The family of Manuel C. Garza IV, who was fatally shot in a parking lot in Southwest Portland on May 8 filed a wrongful death lawsuit against security guard  Eric Salisbury who, despite discharging his weapon during the altercation, was cleared, the security company he owns, and his employer, The Gan Preschool.

On May 8, 32-year-old Garza drove into the  The Gan Preschool located at Jewish Community Center and Preschool.

Salisbury was working as a uniformed armed security guard when Garza drove into the lot before returning and driving through at an unsafe speed, almost striking 53-year-old Salisbury. As Garza drove into the neighboring parking lot at the next door Fanno Creek Medical Clinic, Salisbury followed him.

Garza violently attacked Salisbury in the parking lot, pushing him to the ground and strangling him. After warning Garza, Salisbury, who could not reach his pepper spray, discharged his firearm once, striking Garza with a single bullet in the abdomen. Salisbury then went into the medical centre to ask for help for Garza before calling 911.

The Office of the Multnomah County District Attorney confirmed that the Portland Police Bureau officers who investigated the case determined that Salisbury’s actions were justified. Deputy District Attorney Andrew Wood who reviewed the investigation agreed that Salisbury’s use of force was justified under Oregon law and therefore not criminal.

Garza’s family filed a $15 million lawsuit filed Thursday against claiming Salisbury and his employers are liable for a wrongful death. His family says that Garza had gone for a drive and was listening to music to “return to his baseline self” when he pulled into the parking lot.

In the lawsuit, filed on behalf of Garza’s estate by his wife, Michelle Kilpatrick, 44, a local massage therapist, the family claims Salisbury was the aggressor and was trespassing when he pursued Garza into the neighboring lot.

In the bodycam footage, Garza aggressively approaches Salisbury after exiting his car and, when Garza reaches Salisbury,  and the family says the guard initiated the first physical contact with by grabbing Garza’s neck in a chokehold.

After Salisbury told Garza that he would shoot, Garza responded by screaming, “shoot me” and continued the attack, shouting,“You’re powerless bitch, what the fuck are you gonna do!”